Big Idea - The nation has repeatedly fallen into sin and they deserve to be destroyed completely by God - that is what full justice would bring upon them. But, instead of justice, they receive mercy and God repeatedly makes a way for the atoning of their sin, which turns away His great and deserve wrath. God’s plan to bless them will not fail, and with atonement This passage begins a new and final section of the book of Numbers. The first 10 chapters recount the preparations to go and possess the Land of Promise (census, arranging the camp, with God in the center). Chapter 11-23 tells of the failure of Israel as they repeatedly rebelled against the Lord and refuse to enter the promised land. The result is that that generation is condemned to die in the wilderness and will not possess the land. Chapter 25 is a transition chapter - it records the last of the rebellion cycles, which brings about the deaths of the last remaining survivors of the exodus generation. But, it also looks forward to the new generation. There are many parallels between the way this final section begins with the beginning of the book - there are events happening on the mountain tops that the people are not aware of, the people worship idols, they are saved by the zeal of those who take action against sin, and a census is taken of all the people. The point of these parallels is that this is a new generation, it is a new beginning, and the nation of Israel gets to start over.comes a chance to start over. Their failures follow them, only as a warning. It is a fresh start, and this generation has the chance to do things differently! Their past does not necessarily dictate their future. Starting over means the opportunity to walk fully into God’s blessing and promises!
