TEACHING NUMBERS
From text to message
By Adrian Reynolds
Proc. Trust/Christian Focus. 300 pages. £8.99
ISBN 978 1 781 911 563
When a book to review lands on my doormat I am always a bit apprehensive, but my only disappointment in receiving Teaching Numbers was that I had just bought it!
Reading it opened up a book of the Bible to me which, I confess, I had not often read. Although part of inspired Scripture, we can be tempted to sideline Numbers, perhaps put off by the title, or just dip into it for the odd story like Balaam’s talking donkey. In this excellent book, Adrian Reynolds helps us to see the relevance of Numbers for Christians today. Teaching Numbers is the latest in the Proclamation Trust’s ‘Teaching the Bible’ series which all follow a similar formula to help the preacher work from text to message. As you would expect for a book from the Proclamation Trust, the text is handled carefully and methodically. Each section contains: Introduction, Listening to the Text, From Text to Message, Suggestions for Preaching and Suggestions for Teaching.
Lively and thoughtful
Adrian’s handling of the text is lively and thoughtful. The opening chapter shows how Numbers fits into the Bible’s story which finds fulfilment in Jesus. This shapes his approach throughout. The book contains suggestions on preaching each section and how to construct a whole series. Adrian’s thoroughness and clarity of language make it as suitable for someone new to Bible teaching as an experienced preacher. Indeed, it would be beneficial to anyone who wanted to understand Numbers and I used it in my daily devotions over a three-week period with huge benefit. Like Israel of old, we journey with God to the Promised Land and on the way face temptation and tests. As well as challenging us to continue to walk by faith, Adrian helps us to see that Numbers is primarily a glimpse of the grace and faithfulness of our God who is determined to bless his people despite their failures. Commenting on chapters 26-30 he writes: ‘Though our journey is replete with failures on our part, there are no failures on the Lord’s part’ – praise God for that!
