Today’s reading describes some of the wilderness
experiences of the nation of Israel, and in them we can
see the experiences of Christians today.
In verses 1-10 of chapter 10, we see that God
gives warning when we need it. The two trumpets were
made of silver (a metal that speaks of redemption) and
were used to call the assemblies for the journeying of
the camp. The Priests and Levites lived right next to
the Tabernacle, and they would be the first ones to see
the cloud moving. It would be their responsibility to
warn the camp.
As you read these verses you see that the
trumpets were used for several purposes: to assemble the
camp at the door of the Tabernacle; to call the heads of
the tribes together; to blow an alarm, either for war or
for the journeying of the camp; and to announce the
special days, the new moons, etc. The children of Israel
knew the certain sounds of the trumpet and the exact
meanings of each.
All born-again believers today are listening for
the sound of the trumpet, which will mean the Rapture of
the Church (I Corinthians 15:51-53; I Thessalonians
4:16,17). The sound of the trumpet will be heard by only
those who have placed their faith and trust in Jesus
Christ.
God chastens His people in chapters 11 and 12.
After the remarkable evidences of God’s love in chapters
9 and 10, it is almost unbelievable that we now find the
people complaining. Yet such is human nature. All too
often we forget the miraculous ways in which God has
blessed us, and criticize and complain because of the
situations in which we are living. We should realize
that God is bigger than any of our problems, and will
see us through any situation if we will only put our
faith and trust in Him.
We are told to “do all things without murmurings
and disputings” (Philippians 2:14). If we are to be the
blameless sons of God, and without rebuke in this
crooked and perverse nation, we must obey His Word.