Morning Light – Numbers 10

[Numbers 10] The Trumpets of Redemption. In this chapter, God instructs Moses to fashion two silver trumpets used in calling the people together. These trumpets speak of the gospel’s message, and the character of the gospel is reflected in the silver used to fashion them. There is much condemnation and judgment preached today, but the trumpets of God in this passage were not fashioned of brass (judgment) but silver (redemption). In this chapter, we will see a reflection of the legitimate character of the gospel, which is supposed to be “good news” as opposed to the condemnation and denunciation often heard by those who delight to step on toes rather than wash feet.

[Num 10:1-36 KJV] 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. 3 And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation. 4 And if they blow [but] with one [trumpet], then the princes, [which are] heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. 5 When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. 6 When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. 9 And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. 10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I [am] the LORD your God. 11 And it came to pass on the twentieth [day] of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the Tabernacle of the testimony. 12 And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran. 13 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 14 In the first [place] went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host [was] Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar [was] Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun [was] Eliab the son of Helon. 17 And the Tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the Tabernacle. 18 And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host [was] Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon [was] Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad [was] Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21 And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and [the other] did set up the Tabernacle against they came. 22 And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host [was] Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh [was] Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 24 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin [was] Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25 And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, [which was] the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host [was] Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher [was] Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali [was] Ahira the son of Enan. 28 Thus [were] the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. 29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses’ father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel. 30 And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred. 31 And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. 32 And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee. 33 And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the LORD [was] upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. 35 And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. 36 And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

In v. 2, God tells Moses to craft two silver trumpets to call the people of God. Silver represents redemption. God calls us not in judgment but redemption when we belong to Him and follow Him. What does this tell us about salvation and the basis of salvation from God’s perspective? The Latin word for silver means to be “white” or “shining,” which speaks of God’s glory. The glory of God was over the mercy seat in the Old Testament, and that same glory is in our hearts in the New Covenant. Silver has been used as currency from ancient times, implying that our salvation (that silver represents in scripture) is something that can be spent. We are saved “by grace through faith.” Faith is the currency of the kingdom. The Hebrew word for silver originates from a word meaning “to have deep longing and desire.” This echoes the teaching of scripture that God looks on the heart and not after the outward man. He doesn’t look at your failings but at the heart and your posture of humility before Him.

God tells Moses to make trumpets of silver. By implication, this speaks of the fact that the sound of God is always a redemptive sound. We hear judgmentalism in the preaching of the gospel today. The gospel is the “good news” of God’s love and salvation, not the bad news of judgment and condemnation. If the message of God were to be judgmental and condemnatory, these trumpets would have been made of brass, but they weren’t. What is the purpose of sounding these trumpets? Trumpets were blown for many reasons, including for calling the assembly and the journeying of the camps. When the trumpet was blown for assembly, it was to call the people “to the door of the congregation.” This was the place where God always spoke to Moses. This tells us that the preaching of the gospel is to call people to God’s voice, not to any other purpose. We hear much about “assembling ourselves together.” The assembling is precipitated by a SOUND – a redemptive SOUND that calls us not to a religious convocation but into accountability to the place on the inside of us where His voice is heard for (according to 1 Cor. 3:16) we are His Tabernacle.

It is also essential to note in verse 7 that the people were not to be called together by the sounding of an alarm. When the people were assembled, they were ordered in this case, “not to blow an alarm.” There are many alarmist messages today. That is not the gospel. Jesus and John the Baptist preached “repent – the kingdom is coming …” They did not preach “repent – the END is NEAR”! Although the end WAS near. The message (no matter how bleak the outlook in world events may be) is always “The Sky isn’t falling – the Kingdom is Coming”!

There was also a sounding of the trumpet to call leaders together. The order of the blowing of the trumpets determined the different parts of the camp that would move forward (the eastern part first, which was where Judah camped – Judah always goes first). We also note that not just any Levite could blow a trumpet. The blowing of the trumpets was reserved for Aaron and his sons. It is easy to make noise, and in this information age, there are many noises and many sounds, but God’s ordained messengers will always make the sound that brings the people to who God is in their life and for any other purpose. When there was an appointed time to blow an alarm (v. 9), it was never to hide and run away but to go toward the enemy “that oppresses you.” That is what Paul preached in Acts 14:22 “… it is through much tribulation that you enter the kingdom…” Learn to press into the challenge and the assault of the enemy – daring him to do his worst because “the Lord will be with you and deliver you out of the hand of the oppressor.”

In vs. 10-25, we see reference to the standards that the people marched under. When the people moved by their encampments or assembled to go to war against their enemies, they always did so under standards or banners. This speaks to the name of God “Jehovah-Nissi,” meaning “God is our banner.” There are different banners for each tribe.

Judah – Lion “Called to Rule.”
Issachar – Donkey “Strong Burden Bearer.”
Zebulon – Ship at Harbor “In a Place of Safety”
Levi – Breastplate of Aaron “Interceding for God’s People”
Reuben – Water “Unstable and Impetuous”
Simeon – Crossed Swords “Warlike and Cruel”
Gad – A Troop Encamped, “The Enemy, will Retreat.”
Ephraim – An Ox “Servant of the People”
Manasseh – Fruitful Branch – “Abundant in Fruitfulness”
Benjamin – Wolf – Devouring the Prey
Dan – Serpent – Ambushing the Enemy
Asher – Bread and Wine – Dining with Kings
Naphtali – Hind – Speaking Beautiful Things

The tribes still have their distinction today. Remember, these histories speak of our place in the purposes of God. Those under the law are the shadow of which we are the substance in Christ. Where is your place in the kingdom and among God’s people? Have you found your tribe? You will know when you are among those that share your spiritual DNA. You won’t have to try to fit in; you will be instantly at one with them even though you hardly know one another.

Finally, in vs. 29-36, we see that Moses’ father-in-law wants to take his exit. Moses initially talks him out of leaving by promising to share the goodness of God with him according to their fortunes in the Promised Land. Ultimately, however, Jethro must make his exit. Learn the lesson that there will be people in your life who are not a part of the assignment of heaven for you but nonetheless, you will have the opportunity to be good and kind to them. The blessing of Abraham is to all the nations, not just to your small group. After meeting with his father-in-law, Moses sees that the cloud of God is departing, so the people break camp and follow after as God had commanded. In v. 35, when Moses says “rise up,” it was done by the sounding of trumpets and the moving the encampments of the 12 tribes by their standards as God instructed. The word of the Lord over God’s people as we are in transition is “rise up and let your enemies be scattered,” and when you come to resting place in God, “return oh Lord to the many thousands of your people.” Living for God is a repeating pattern of moving out in conquest and coming to rest in the presence of God. Our responsibility is to listen for God’s sound, for the sound of His trumpets and to act accordingly.