October 8, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Numbers and Colossians? Here’s today’s reading:
Numbers 1 (NIV)
The Census
1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.……Continue Reading
It is interesting that modern Israel requires everyone over 18 to serve time in the Israeli defense force. Does anyone think that some of that mindset and current practice stems from the Old Testament times and directions given by God in passages such as Numbers 1?
not sure,Sean, but an interesting thought…
I read that in Hebrew, the book of Numbers is actually titled “In the Wilderness” and that is because the book is all about God’s people in the Wilderness; how they got there, how God dealt with them in the wilderness, and how He brought them out of the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. So rather than me just feeling like I am reading lists or records it made me remember the importance of stopping to take account of all God has done for me, how far He has taken me, and how far we still have to go.
Exodus 1 and 2 my phone was dead so we read Exodus accidentally! It was more interesting than Numbers.
Then Steve read Numbers 1 to me.
”And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.“
Numbers 1:54 KJV
Numbers 1
Numbers 1 and 2
Numbers 1 & 2.
Out of census of the tribes; the tribe of Levites were not counted by God`s command. But the two tribes from Joseph would both be counted. They were Ephraim, and Manasseh. This way twelve tribes would represent Israel. The tribe of Levites therefore would represent indirectly God. For they had to minister at the Tabernacle. They were responsible for any of the dealings of the Tabernacle. They only were responsible for whenever God moved; they had to take it apart and resemble it. All of it`s furnishes, etc. No other person was to help with it or even touch it or that person would die. All of it was holy for God said and it was all consecrated for His purpose including the Levites. Something not to be taken lightly. Remember how two of Aaron`s sons were killed by God because they did wrong and took it lightly. Or how during David`s time someone was killed when they were transporting the Ark of the Covenant by ox and someone reached out to steady it. The Levites were to carry the Ark with poles on their shoulders. The poles ran through the sides supporting the Ark. 2 Samuel 6:6,7. This was taken very serious by God as should it be by us. He with all His other Attributes is a HOLY GOD. Thank God; He looks at us through Jesus Christ with His Righteousness and not our own. For we couldn`t stand up to His HOLINESS. Without Christ we would all go to Hell. Hope all is well with everyone.
This chapter certainly shows that God is a God of order, but also of delegation of responsibilities, taking a large task and dividing it amongst those competent (selected by Him) to help. We also see here that God cares about the parts that we play in His plans. He has promised to be Israel’s protector and defender, but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t want Israel not to be aware of how many fighting men they have. They will participate in the battles that are fought. There is an aspect of planning and coordination in that which shows another thing that God cares about. It is also interesting to see the numbers associated with the tribes and that the Levites were not counted for the military but were given responsibility over the tabernacle. A higher call for sure…
Numbers 1
Numbers 1
Numbers 1