Another census! I don’t know about you, but reading through lists of Bible names isn’t a big highlight for me. Yet, I usually find a highlight in the list of names! Today’s reading is no exception. Let’s compare the numbers from both the first and second censuses.
- Census 1: The total number was 603,550. (Numbers 1:46, NLT) (Total number of men able to go to war.)
- Census 2: In summary, the registered troops of all Israel numbered 601,730. (Numbers 26:51 NLT)
The numbers are almost the same! Wow! Thirty-eight years ago, Israel stood at the border and told Moses they would not enter the promised land. God basically said, “Okay, I’ll take you up on that; you will not enter the promised land.” For thirty-eight years, Israel wandered in the wilderness, and the numbers don’t lie; they are not better off for their unbelief! In fact, only two people, including Moses, remain from the original census.
Not one person on this list had been among those listed in the previous registration taken by Moses and Aaron in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, “They will all die in the wilderness.” Not one of them survived except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. (Numbers 26:64–65, NLT)
So, what’s the highlight here? Faith is where the victory is at! Not unbelief! In other words, obediently moving forward with God’s plan is far better than resisting and wandering in unbelief.
Sure, Israel gave excuses for not trusting and obeying God. Thirty-eight years ago, they said the cities were fortified, the giants would tear their children apart, and the enemy was too strong. Well, all this time later, none of that has changed, and Israel isn’t any bigger, scarier, or stronger, either. Talk about a waste of thirty-eight years! And that is the point: there is no advantage in unbelief! The numbers don’t lie!
The highlight? Rejoice! Faith is the victory! In other words, love God, obey God, believe God! Stop the wandering; start the overcoming!
Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:3–5, NLT)
Thanks for joining me in my adventure to read the Bible chronologically! Today’s post comes from Numbers 26-27. Tomorrow, I will be reading Numbers 28-30.