The number 40 has significance throughout the Bible. So do wilderness journeys, both as consequence of sin but also of personal and spiritual discipline. During Advent, it only seems appropriate then, to summarize the most significant wilderness journey: that of Israel, even as we ourselves undertake a journey through this season of Advent - knowing that we wander in the wilderness as well until that time when Christ returns. With that: the next two installments in our Bible summary.
Continuing after the Exodus (Part 4), upon crossing the Red Sea, where God destroys the armies of Pharaoh, the Israelites immediately set out upon a journey that will take them ultimately to the land promised to Abraham in the covenant God made (Part 1), thereby fulfilling the second part of the promise. (Parts 2 and 3 can be found here). Despite the spectacular nature of the “Exodus” event itself, the Israelites not only grumble constantly against God, but also continue to disobey God, seemingly forgetting the amazing things God had just done - all for them. This results in a 40 year period in a barren wilderness as a consequence of sin.
Not long after, the Israelites find themselves encamped at the base of Mount Sinai (historically seen as the Mount Sinai at the southern end of the Sinai peninsula, present day Saudi Arabia). It is there that God again appears to them in spectacular fashion through earthquakes, dense smoke surrounding the mountain top, thunder and lightning - all of which we call a “theophany.” Moses climbs the mountain, where God establishes a second “covenant” with the people - this one a covenant of “law” that tells them how to copy Godly behavior, live in community with one another, and experience the blessing of truly knowing God as their Lord. Today, these are what we call the “Ten Commandments” (Exodus 20). Instructions were also given regarding worship and worship space (the tabernacle - Exodus 26) and the storage of the covenant in the “ark” - a golden box that would contain the actual tablets of the covenant (Exodus 25). Many other instructions regarding worship and its leaders or priests are given in the following chapters. However, during this time of instruction by God to Moses, the people once again quickly forget what God had done, and fashion a false god in the shape of a golden calf (ch. 32). Read Aaron’s “whopper of a lie” in how it transpired in 32:24!
Sadly, it would not be the last of such occurrences, leading to all manner of plague and other punishment by God, including wandering in the wilderness for 40 years before reaching the land promised to Abraham clear back in Genesis (part 1).
To complete the journey through the “Penteteuch,” (a fancy word for the first 5 books of the Bible), Leviticus is a book that presents the young nation of Israel with a series of holiness codes and purity codes. While we generally are not bound by them today, many of them still make perfect sense, such as washing before eating, the possibilities of contracting parasites from certain meats (because they were often consumed undercooked), and so on. Certainly as well, treating our worship with sense of reverence and respect is also something that shows the seriousness with which we take it and our devotion to God today.
The Book of Numbers chronicles their 40 year wilderness journey. Remember that the lengthy journey to the “promised land” is a result of their sin before God. In fact, Moses is told that he would see - but never enter - that land (Numbers 14:30). The grumbling continues, and it seems that Israel’s sin becomes more brazen. In one instance, it was so great that they claimed to have no food, and in the same breath complained that they hated the food provided! This resulted in God sending poisonous snakes into their camp, forcing them once again to turn to God for help. Moses was instructed to craft a bronze serpent, place it on a pole in the center of camp, and anyone who looks on this “idol” would then live (Numbers 21). This incident is cited again in The Gospels: John 3:14. Israel’s general response to God was not with faith, gratitude, and obedience, but with unbelief, ingratitude, and downright rebellion against God.
The book of Deuteronomy retells the laws as a covenant - stressing the need for the people to show a total commitment to God. Why? Because of what God had already done for them in rescuing them from the Egyptians and bringing them out of bondage to slavery. Finally, Israel is now about to take possession of the land of Canaan, promised by covenant with Abraham nearly 500 years earlier.
Moses has now died, having led his people out of Egypt, and to the eastern side of the Jordan River, across from the land of Canaan. Remember that Abraham never had a permanent home, but God’s covenant had promised this land would one day be called home for his descendants. The book of Joshua recounts the conquest of the Holy Land by God’s command, and the allotment given to each of the 12 tribes, who were the descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob.
Though some of the eastern territories (east of the Jordan River) were previously conquered in the latter chapters of Numbers, Joshua is the name of the Israelite put in charge of the conquest of the land of Canaan. Moses, true to God’s promise, was allowed to view the promised land, but was not allowed to enter it, in punishment for Israel’s continual disobedience toward God, Deuteronomy 34:4.
As the plans are made for conquest, the manna finally ceases to fall from heaven (5:10-12), as the men go to spy out land and strike a deal with Rahab, a prostitute in the land (ch. 2). In addition, before conquest can proceed, the covenant must be reestablished, meaning all men born during the 40 year wilderness wandering must now be circumcised (5:2-9). In addition, God alone is the commander in chief of the invading army(5:13-15).
Famous battles include the battle for Jericho (5:13-6:27), and the day where the sun stood still (10:1-15). Chapter 12 provides a list of cities and kings defeated in conquest. Much of the latter chapters of Joshua provides for the division of the land. It is also important to note the establishment of “cities of refuge,” (ch. 20), where a person may find safe refuge from “accidental” crimes.
Though their conquest is not completely done, there is a renewal of the covenant God made at Sinai, in chapter 24. It is important to note that this Sinai covenant is a conditional one- things will go well for the people if they worship the Lord only, and things will go horribly if they don’t. Their wandering in the wilderness, and even their first failed campaign against the city of “Ai” (ch. 7) demonstrate that God is serious about the people not turning to foreign gods and idols, but living in covenant with him alone.
Joshua recounts in rather gruesome detail some of the horrors of war. There are many place names also included, some of which are unknown today. What stands is the impressive list of cities Israel (ch. 12) was able to capture with God on their side. Historically, there is little debate over this conquest. Yet some want to question the integrity of God in calling for such genocidal behavior and taking a lead role in it.
Perhaps it is important to remember that far worse crimes or atrocities have been committed throughout human history, and this is not a matter of genocide per se, but rather God’s purposeful demonstration that it is He, and not us, who is the maker AND owner of all things, including our very lives. He is at work in calling all to repentance, and to understanding his purpose and his purpose alone for the world (HIS world). The intent all along was in knowing that Israel would not influence those native in the land to worship God, but rather the natives in the land would influence Israel to turn to pagan gods, in opposition to what God commands. Or, as the NIV (1984) Study Bible states, “The battles for Canaan were therefore the Lord’s holy war, undertaken at a particular time in the program of redemption. God gave his people under Joshua no commission or license to conquer the world with the sword but a particular, limited mission. The conquered land itself would not become Israel’s national possession by right of conquest, but it belonged to the Lord. So the land had to be cleansed of all remnants of paganism.”
Without that campaign carried out completely, what God knew would happen - namely that Israel would quickly turn toward pagan gods - did, in fact, happen. And that leads us to the next chapters in the Bible's fantastic Divine Drama.
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