Skip to main content

The Trumpet Call

In Numbers Chapter 10, the Lord told Moses to make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the community together and for having the camps set out.  It  would have taken some time to make these instruments.  God did not specify who would make the horns.  Instead, God focused on the use of the trumpets.   
The priests blew the horns.  The priests were in a central location, so that everyone should be able to hear and assemble when called or set out if the blasts were short. Just in case someone didn’t notice the cloud had lifted, the signal would be audible for Israel to know it was time to get ready to move.  The priests also signaled for each division to set out in turn.  Again, God is setting order and organization into motion. 

The table below shows the trumpet calls and their meanings: 
Occasion/Reason 
Prescribed Signal 
Elders Assemble 
Long blast on 1 trumpet 
Community Assemble 
Both trumpets sound (long blast) 
Break Camp/Division Set Out 
One trumpet blast (shorter signal) 
Go to War 
Blast on both trumpets when facing enemy 
Celebrate  
Sound the trumpets (long blast on both after everyone is already assembled) 
Only twenty days after the announcement of the military census, the cloud lifted from the tabernacle of the Testimony, indicating it was time to move.  “After remaining for almost a year at Mount Sinai (cf. Ex. 19:1-2), the Israelites are actually setting out.” (NIV Application Commentary)

The time at Mount Sinai helped the Israelites to get organized.  It was also a time of rest and a time of unification of the community. Like a long retreat together, it surely helped them to grow together as one nation.  Even though many worked to build the tabernacle and its furnishings and articles, curtains and frames, this work would have been a pleasure and nothing like their slavery in Egypt. The misery they endured in Egypt could become a distant memory through this time in Sinai.  Those who had worked as foremen over their own countrymen could rebuild relationships while getting organized, building the tabernacle and receiving the Law and other instructions from God. 

When have you had a refreshing time of building or rebuilding relationships in your community, family or extended family? Any time I have gone away for a weekend or longer with my family or friends, I have made so many memories. Even if we had rainy weather, we found fun things to do.  In the church, also, I have experienced real growth in my walk with God and in my relationships with others at women’s retreats, couples’ retreats and leaders’ retreats.  The next time you have an opportunity to get away, take it!  Let God build the relationships you already have and help you to start new ones. 

The community was together and they did work on the tabernacle with joy. When have you done work for the Lord that refreshed you and left you exhilarated? This has often been my experience.  I love working with a group of believers to help others.  This is truly my passion and always energizes me.  I have worked alongside some amazing, selfless people who serve more than I do and it is a challenge and an encouragement to me. When the word does not feel like work, you are operating in your giftedness and using the Lord's strength.

When God met with Moses, there was a trumpet blasting among the thunder and smoke. (Ex 19 and 20) 
In Leviticus, God sets up the Feast of Trumpets. In Joshua, Judges, Kings and Chronicles, and writings of the prophets we read about the trumpets gathering the assembly, calling Israel to War, rousing troops to battle and praising God in celebration.   

The silver trumpets were made for Israel to call assemblies, prepare to move, go to war or celebrate. God's voice is described as a trumpet sound in chapter 1 and 4.  Also in the book of Revelation, there are trumpets used to signal judgments from God. In Revelation 8 the seven angels before God were each given a trumpet and as each one individually sounds his trumpet, God's judgments are released on the earth. Revelation 10:7 says that these judgments accomplish the mystery of God.  Revelation 11:15 tells us that these judgments have made the kingdoms of the world the kingdom of our Lord and Messiah.  It also reminds us that He will reign forever and ever. 

1 Thessalonians 4 tells of the Trumpet call of God in the context of Christ's return and our meeting Christ in the air.  These verses point to the rapture of God's people, rising to meet Him in the air. This is what we long for; this is our hope in Jesus. He is returning.  We will be changed and go to Him.  Dwell on that fact today, dear believer, and you can meet life's challenges with a smile on your face.  God bless you.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Traveling with God

Setting Out   My husband and I love to travel.  Before a trip, I start planning what to bring and I pack over the course of at least a week before we go. Before we pull out of the driveway, we pray to God for protection, a sweet time of rest and adventure and we pray that we will honor Him with our time.  The Israelites are given directives by God Himself on their marching order and travel plans.  The divisions of the camps moved out in the order designated by the Lord, led by the leaders chosen by the Lord.  The ark lead the way, with the cloud  above it.  Judah’s division set  out  behind the ark . Then the tabernacle wa s packed up and carted off by the  Gershonites  and  Merarites .  Next, Reuben’s division set out.  “Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things.  The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.” ( Numbers 10:21 )   The divisions of the camp of Ephraim followed the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Look to the Lord

What is your first instinct when you need help? Do you call a friend, a family member, a neighbor? Do you exhaust  all of  your own resources before turning to the Lord?  After Israel finished mourning Aaron, they   moved on.  As they were going, they were threatened by a Canaanite king.  The king of Arad attacked and took some hostages. Israel prayed to the Lord and vowed to destroy these people completely if God gave them the victory.  The Lord listened to their plea and Israel  completely destroyed  Arad and its towns.   For once, Israel’s instinct  wa s to turn to the Lord.  And how great a response they received!  It is refreshing to see Israel take their troubles to God and vow to obey Him.  I love the Bible verse that says, "We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on You." ( 2 Chronicles 20:12b ) God already told Israel that they would have to totally annihilate the  Canaanites  or their ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sibling Rivalry

I had four siblings growing up.  There were always undertones of competition.  Whether it is subtle or obvious, there is often a power struggle among siblings. Moses had a brother and a sister.  His brother Aaron was three years older than Moses and was apparently born before Pharaoh started making the Israelites throw their infants in the Nile River. Moses was saved out of the water by Pharaoh's daughter and Miriam was obviously the oldest because she was old enough to call out to Pharaoh's daughter when she drew Moses out of the water, asking her if she needed an Israelite woman to care for the baby. (By the way, this led to Moses' mother being paid to nurse her own son!! God has the greatest sense of humor!) ( Exodus 2 ) In the desert, Moses and Aaron were often ministering together and speaking to the people together.  But it was Moses who met with God face to face and Aaron who was made the high priest (even though he let the people into idolatry with the go...
Post a Comment
Read more