What is the Spiritual Meaning of the Book of Numbers?

The Old Testament tells an amazing story.  Although the plot has many twists and turns, God never gives up His intention. When I read through the Life-Studies of Genesis I saw that God called Abraham with an intention that He would have a people to express Him and represent Him on earth.  This intention is clearly seen  in Genesis 1:26-27, and Witness Lee's sharing on it has helped me to read the Old Testament with these verses in mind. 

Then when I read through the Life-Studies of Exodus, I saw that the children of Israel were delivered out of Egypt so that they would build God a dwelling place.  This was a further step.  God finally had a place on earth where He could descend and speak to His people.   

I learned when I read through the Life-Studies of Leviticus  that God has a precise way for His people to contact Him through many types of offerings.  Without these offerings sinful man could not worship a holy and righteous God. 

I just started reading the Life-Studies of Numbers, and I was touched to see that God is numbering His people so He can conquer His enemy on earth. In these  excerpts on pages 11-13 and16 in chapter two of the Life-Study of Numbers, Witness Lee Explains what God's intention is in this book:

Eventually, the picture in Numbers shows us God and His chosen people mingled together as one entity to conquer the enemy on earth. The enemy utilizes and usurps the entire earth, which God created for Himself and His purpose. How can God regain the earth? God will not regain the earth directly, by Himself as the mighty God, the Creator. In the New Testament economy, God would never do this by Himself....The children of Israel were formed into a body to fight for God as warriors and serve God as  priests for the carrying out of God's purpose....The formation of the children of Israel into a body to fight for God and to serve God typifies the New Testament believers being built up into the organic Body of Christ to fight for God for the carrying out, in its service to God, of God's eternal economy....The army of God protecting God's testimony is a matter of a formed assembly, not of individuals....God desires the formed, coordinated Body of Christ. The children of Israel were formed into a fighting army by being numbered by their families and leaders (vv. 1-16) and according to their age (vv. 20-46)....The fighting Israelites were the outward protection for the serving Levites, who were for the testimony of God. The Levites were encamped around the tabernacle, and they were surrounded by the twelve tribes, who protected them (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Numbers. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1990, Print).

 
I can see from this that in Numbers God is taking a further step to regain the earth for Himself. I like the way  Witness Lee shares the Old Testament types in light of New Testament realities!

 You can listen to excerpts of Witness Lee's speaking the Life-Study of Numbers on Life Study of the Bible  with Witness Lee.   You can also read the online Life-Studies of Numbers and check out other resources available to enhance your study of the Bible on Living Stream Ministry's website.

Other Posts on Numbers:

What is the Spiritual Meaning of the Book of Numbers
Lessons the Israelites Learned in Numbers 11 - Part 1 of 5
Lessons the Israelites Learned in Numbers 12 - Part 2 of 5
Lessons the Israelites Learned in Numbers 13 & 14 - Part 3 of 5
Lessons the Israelites Learned in Numbers 16 - Part 4 of 5