Can Jesus Christ be found in the book of Numbers?
Nathan Jones: To answer this question, we're going to turn to the book of Numbers and focus on God's holy priesthood, aided by this week's guest on our television program Christ in Prophecy, Avi Mizrachi. Avi is the founder and pastor of Adonai Roi, a Messianic congregation in Tel Aviv, and Dugit Outreach Ministries. He and his wife Chaya have a true heart for the Jewish people.
Numbers is a book of the Bible that was written around 3,500 years ago, call it 1420 BC. As the Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, God ongoingly cared for them, meeting all of their needs, but also forgiving and loving them. Early in the book, Moses outlined the duties of the priests and all the Levite men who would serve God foremost.
Tim Moore: Your name, Avi, I learned comes from "Avraham," or Abraham in English. Likewise, there's something beautiful about the book we know of as Numbers, because in Hebrew it goes by a different name, right?
Avi Mizrachi: Yes, in Hebrew the name is "Bemidbar" which means "in the desert." It's beautiful because inside the word "Bemidbar" we have the word "Davar" which is the Word of God. In other words, God is taking us to the desert to speak to us. So, the Israelites entered the wilderness of the desert in Exodus 19, then they leave the Sinai Desert in Numbers 10.
The Prophecy of Balaam
Nathan Jones: Numbers 22 feels like you've reached an oasis in the middle of the desert of Numbers' endless counting and lists because here it tells the story of Balaam and his talking donkey. What an interesting story! Avi, was it normal in Bible times for foreign nations to call prophets to come and bring curses down upon Israel?
Avi Mizrachi: Even in modern-day Israel, we are used to that happening. When Israel declared independence on May 14, 1948, all of our neighbors didn't say, "Ahlan Salaam," which means "Welcome." No, just the opposite happened. Our neighbors declared war on us and cursed us bitterly. They cried out, "We will kill you and throw you into the sea!" So, nothing has changed since Bible times.
Nathan Jones: In a way then, we are still living in Bible times, aren't we?
Avi Mizrachi: Yes. I would like to jump ahead in this story of Balaam to Numbers 24. Four times Balak asked Balaam to curse Israel. Four times! By Numbers 24:17, Balaam ends up blessing Israel. And, he adds, "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star should come out of Jacob, a scepter shall rise out of Israel." I find that declaration particularly interesting because now Balaam is talking about not just blessing Israel, but he is prophesying about the future and how King David would reign over Israel. And, not only King David, the scepter is going to be passed on to a descendant of King David who is the Messiah.
The Brazen Serpent
Tim Moore: Numbers also tells us about God's indignation rising as the Hebrew people alternately followed and obeyed and then fell away again. They'd gotten into a cycle of grumbling and complaining. In one instance, as punishment, God sent "fiery" serpents among the people and they would bite them and many people perished. To provide a counter to the curse, God told Moses to craft a bronze serpent and lift it up on a pole. Anyone who looked at that bronze serpent and who trusted in God's provision would be healed and be protected from the bite of the serpents.
Note that Jesus cited that very incident as pointing to the Son of Man who would be lifted up, and all who looked to Him and put their trust in Him would be saved. And so, Jesus said in John 3:14-15, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life."
Avi Mizrachi: Amen and amen! That's an amazing statement because there's another scripture where it says that a person who hangs on a tree is cursed. So, in Jesus' time, the people had to look on this person who has been crucified and cursed. Jesus became a curse for us. So that what...? We may live! Only Jesus Christ could break the curse and heal us.
Tim Moore: So the serpent who was cursed by God was the one raised up on a pole. And, Christ being cursed was also raised up, just like the brazen serpent. The brazen serpent became a symbol pointing to Jesus Christ providing salvation.
The High Priest
Tim Moore: In the book of Numbers, God called the people to take a census and count the number of men. During this census, God ordered Moses to count the number of firstborns from all of the Israelites and separated the number of firstborns from the tribe of Levi, for these men from the tribe of Levi were called to fill a very special role. And so, in addition to the historical narrative taken by this particular book, there's also an emphasis on the priesthood and those who were given a special calling.
From a Jewish perspective, Avi, what was the role of the priest? Who could aspire to actually serve in that special role?
Avi Mizrachi: The word for priest in Hebrew is "Kohen." A priest served the Lord by bringing in the sacrifices unto the Lord. His role was to be the mediator between God and His people. Then you also have the Levites from the tribe of Levi. They served the priests by helping. They also were in charge of worship and playing the instruments. I find it very interesting that when we study Numbers we see how God has orchestrated all of these roles together.
Tim Moore: The Bible records at times how the priest and the Levites were very zealous in defending the honor of the Lord and in excising sin from the people. At other times, they were not so very zealous about defending the honor of the Lord.
For example, in Numbers 25, when the people of Israel began to do what is described as "playing the harlot" by marrying their sons to the daughters of Moab, and when they began to worship false gods, Aaron's grandson Phinehas, also a priest himself, ruthlessly slew both an Israelite and the Midianite woman who had defiled the nation. In doing so, he ended a plague that had come upon them due to God's anger which had killed 24,000 people.
At other times, the very sons of Levi were instigators of rebellion and wrongdoing, such as when Korah rose up against Moses and tried to lead a rebellion against God's chosen leader. Again, in that instance, God brought down judgment and the earth itself swallowed up Korah and some of the others who had rebelled. Being a priest even then was a very heavy burden.
Avi Mizrachi: Yes, Numbers 16 tells the whole story of Korah, and it says that he also took with him 250 leaders when challenging Moses and Aaron. This was definitely a coup against the Israelite's leadership and those God had anointed. God brought His judgment, and all of the rebels went under.
Nathan Jones: Avi, do you believe Numbers points to Jesus Christ as being our High Priest — the mediator between Christians and the Father?
Avi Mizrachi: Yes, definitely. We read about Melchizedek in the book of Hebrews. The book compares the two and shows how the Messiah is now our king — the King of Righteousness. Melchizedek actually means "King of Righteousness." Melchizedek is very clearly a type of Christ who points to Jesus who also holds both offices as our high priest and king.
Nathan Jones: And, with Jesus, He embodies all three ruling offices roled up in one: King, High Priest, and Prophet.
Tim Moore: In the book of Hebrews the writer says, "We have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens." So, we can all agree that Jesus Christ is our high priest interceding for us before the Heavenly Father.
Nathan Jones: So, we find here in the book of Numbers at least three symbols or types that point to Jesus Christ: the prophecy of Balaam, the Brazen Serpent, and Melchizedek the high priest and king. For the complete discussion, watch Christ in Prophecy, then dive deeper into the Key Verse Commentary (posted below the video)!
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