In today's reading, attendance is taken and we read about the "numbers" of the Israelites. I was wondering the importance of the census while I was reading it, and then this thought came to me. The number of the descendants of Jacob who entered Egypt was 70 (Exodus 1:5). Now the total number was 603,550 (not including the Levites), and this was also only the men who were over 20 years of age.
This amazing growth from just 70 was evidence for the Israelites to see God's great blessing and His faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham. This is also evidence for us to see how God blessed His people and grew a nation that became so numerous that they were regarded as a grave threat to the security of Egypt.
It caused me to question whether or not I truly give God the credit He is due? And do I really trust God and His promises to help me to get through the tough times?
"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." Numbers 1:1
The Lord spoke to Moses. In the 36 chapters of Numbers, "the Lord spoke to Moses" is stated over 150 times in more than 20 ways. I know that the Lord spoke to the Israelite's through Moses which is why it is mentioned so many times, but God obviously wants to speak to us too. Do I take the time to listen for His voice? What would I do if I hear His voice?
" So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses;" Numbers 2:34
Not only did Moses obey God's instruction, but all the Israelite's obeyed too. Not some or most of the commands, but every single one! A major accomplishment for a people so numerous and who were recently enslaved.
Ask my wife Pamela, the hottest grade 1 teacher I know, if her classroom runs smoother when her grade 1's know their tasks? Even at an early age, we require direction. Things need to be organized. When people live in a community, leaders need to be appointed, jobs assigned, and inventory taken. Moses spoke these instructions to the Israelites, and they listened.
God called the Israelite's to live a life of obedient faith. He has called us too. My prayer is that I would listen, and respond willingly to His instruction.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Numbers 3-4
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Numbers 1:51
Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.
Again we see the importance and holiness of the tabernacle. We also see the importance of following God's instructions.
Can you imagine how big this campsite must have been?! According to my Life Application Bible it would have taken about 12 square miles to set up tents for just the 600,000 fighting men, not to mention the women and children. No wonder Moses had a difficult time managing this many people!
It's good to see how obedient the Israelites were at the beginning stages, but soon the complaining, grumbling, and disobedience would start.
That's a big campsite, Tammy!
I know that my Grade 1 friends do better when they know the rules and follow them. It is the way we can accomplish a year of curriculum in 186 days. Likewise, when the Israelites were obeying they were able to accomplish what God had planned for them. It was when the grumbling and discontent started that everything fell apart.
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