There are at least five times where it says, "…as the Lord had commanded Moses." (4:37,41,45,49 5:4) In Num.33:2 it says, "…Moses kept a written record of their progress." And as well as revealing the original reader in Numbers 9:10, it also reveals that God spoke through Moses to the people of Israel.
A very dominant theme in Numbers is judgement. The Israelites are constantly complaining and God is having to answer back with judgement. Numbers 11:1-3 tells the story of the Israelites moaning about their hardships and God sending fire and "He destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp." A repeated idea in this book is God's anger. In 11:10 it says, "And the Lord become extremely angry." Normally I hear, 'God is slow to anger," but in this book it seems more like, quick to anger. The Israelites had been disobeying God and complaining ever since Egypt, so I can imagine how frustrated God must have been. Other references to His anger are 11:1, 16:46, 16:22, 12:9, and 11:33. In one sentence, Numbers is about God disciplining His chosen people and as a result, they wander in the wilderness.
I think the primary reason that this book was written was to be a cautionary tale for the Israelites and their descendants. Their unbelief and distrust in God's plan for them resulted in forty years of wandering; never to set foot in the promised land. (14:22-23) Even in Numbers 20:12, it says that even Moses and Aaron will not "lead them into the land" God has waiting for them.
Although God's anger is quite obvious throughout the book, I noticed His mercy, despite it all. In 14:19&20, God pardons the Israelites after Moses asks God to spare them and not to wipe them out. His mercy is great, especially when Moses says that God has "forgiven them ever since they left Egypt." I also see God's love for His people. The pillar of cloud by day and the fire by night leading the people throughout the wilderness is so beautiful. (9:15-23) He went out before them and made His presence visibly seen to them. That picture, to me, shows His desire to guide them and love them. They are, after all, His special possessions.
Numbers 21:6-9, is the story of the poisonous snakes. God says, "Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!" That points to Jesus on the cross. We look to Him and are saved; He is the only path to life.
Out of all of the verses in Numbers, part of 11:23 stood out to me the most. God says, "Has my arm lost it's power?" After everything Moses had seen God do he still didn't fully trust Him. It caused me to look at my own life and how much I trust God. It's so easy to trust God with the small things, but when it comes to stepping out in faith in the big things, I often doubt and question. But He is faithful in my life and always does what He says; always providing and always trustworthy. My doubt frustrates me, but I am finding that, especially recently, my trust in Him is getting stronger. It makes me so joyful, because it's what God wants us to do; trust Him wholeheartedly.
According to Nelson's Maps & Charts, Numbers 7:1-9:14 is where the "sanctification through worship" takes place. It mainly talks about a representative from each tribe giving gifts at the Tabernacle. It mentions setting the Levites apart and that the Passover takes place. It doesn't mention singing, dancing or loud music, but it does highlight the sanctity of God's presence and the need to consecrate oneself before going to His holy place. It is a visual representation of what our heart should be like; consecrated and set apart to Him. To not rush the stage and belt out a song to grab attention and accolades; but to come before the Holy One with a soft heart with sensitivity to His presence.
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