Learning from the second census - a new generation for God
Text Numbers 26 Time 10/03/13 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church
We are looking at the Book of
Numbers and we come this week to Chapter 26 where we have described
for us the second census. The reason that this book is called
Numbers is because we have several sets of numbers in it and this is
one of them. Just as Chapter 1 gives the numbers for the first census
so in this chapter we have the numbers for the second census.
The statistics are beginning to appear for the last UK government
census. It is not easy to organise such things and it takes quite a
bit of time and money. Governments find it useful, however, to have
accurate information on population and similar matters in order to
plan for the future. In the UK the census is every ten years but
while the Israelites were in the desert it was 40 years between the
first and the second census, time enough for a whole generation to
die out pretty much.
Unlike a UK census these censuses
were not concerned to number every single person but one would guess
that there were about two million present both times. With smaller
numbers and everyone being in one place, it was easier to conduct than
ours are but it would not have been that easy. What I want us to do
this evening is to look at this second census and what we are told
about it and draw out a number of lessons.
1.
Learn about continued obedience to God
We
read (1-4) that
After
the plague the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the
priest, Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families -
all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army
of Israel. So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from
Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, Take
a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the LORD commanded
Moses.
The book begins with a similar
command. Then it was Moses and Aaron, now it is Moses and Eleazar. In
each case the command was obeyed and we also must obey God's
commands, whether it comes one or twice or a thousand times. He must
be obeyed in every generation.
For
each of the tribes a figure is given as was done in Chapter 1. In all
cases the figures change up or down sometimes quite radically. Simeon
decreases by a third and in the case of Manasseh there is a 60%
increase.
The figures in the two chapters are
1:21 The number from
the tribe of Reuben was 46,500. 7
These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.
Reuben's
decline is explained in verses 8-11
The son of Pallu was Eliab, and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan
and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials
who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah's followers
when they rebelled against the LORD. The earth opened its mouth and
swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire
devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign. The line of
Korah, however, did not die out.
4
These were the clans of Simeon; there were 22,200 men.
We
do not know why there was this drastic drop but it may have been the
plague following the idolatry and adultery at Baal Peor.
18
These were the clans of Gad; those numbered were 40,500. A
decrease again.
22
These were the clans of Judah; those numbered were 76,500. An
increase here.
25
These were the clans of Issachar; those numbered were 64,300. Another
increase.
27
These were the clans of Zebulun; those numbered were 60,500. An
increase.
1:33 The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500. 1:35 The
number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.
34
These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700. 37
These were the clans of Ephraim; those numbered were 32,500. These
were the descendants of Joseph by their clans.
A 60% increase for Manasseh and a
significant decrease for Ephraim.
41
These were the clans of Benjamin; those numbered were 45,600.
Increase
(third highest). Half the sons missing though – died out?
42
These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: through Shuham, the
Shuhamite clan. These were the clans of Dan: 43 All of them were
Shuhamite clans; and those numbered were 64,400. One
clan yet an increase nevertheless.
47
These were the clans of Asher; those numbered were 53,400. Increase
(second largest)
1:43
The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.
50
These were the clans of Naphtali; those numbered were 45,400.
Decrease.
In
Chapter 1 the total number was 603,550 and now we read (51)
The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730. Not
a huge difference over all then.
The number range is even greater
than before - from as few as 22, 200 to as many as 76, 500 (85,200
for Joseph). The sheer variation is a reminder of God's providence. A
single couple may produce many grandchildren and great grand
children, etc, or they may produce very few or none. When God comes
in judgement it can make a vast difference. The main factor here is
God's providence in ability to conceive, live birth, later longevity
and his powerful judgements.
We can also say here
At
the very least God's call for another census of his people was
another reminder of who was in control, who was the sovereign power.
It wasn't Moses. He would soon die. It wasn't Joshua. Indeed it
wasn't anyone from that rebellious older generation. It was God
himself.
The
sovereignty of God is one of those truths we need to keep coming back
to, reminding ourselves who is in control.
2.
Learn about God's love
God
is not just like a sovereign commanding his people to stand up and be
counted, he is also like a shepherd counting his sheep, like a mother
or father checking that everyone is present. This census speaks of
his love for his people as a company and as individuals. It reminds
us of the Book of Life itself where the names of all the elect are
found.
The
love of God is a fundamental truth never to be forgotten.
3.
Learn about God's faithfulness
The second census was also a
reminder of God's continuing covenant faithfulness. God had made his
covenant with Abraham and then with Isaac and Jacob. When Jacob went
down into Egypt they numbered about 70. They weren't a nation or
people just a rather large family. Now some 400 or so years later
they were a people, a nation about two million strong. It was a
testimony to God's faithfulness over the years. They were once not a
people but now they were the people of God. And despite their being
in the desert some 40 years and being very rebellious, they were
still an entity. That faithfulness continues to this very day and is
something we can always count on. He will never fail his people. He
keeps all his promises.
3. Learn about God's purposes
1. Recognise that there is
fighting to be done
You
notice that not everyone is counted in this census but only those
twenty
years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel. In
the Ancient Near East 20 was a typical military age. There was fighting to be done.
The Canaanites were not simply going to stand aside as Israel marched
in and took their land. They would need to fight and even in this
book we read about fighting, although the real fight begins in Joshua
and Judges. Now, of course, today God's nation does not advance by
means of physical fighting. However, there are spiritual battles to
be fought and the New Testament often takes up that picture to speak
about living the Christian life. Paul urges us in Ephesians 6 to put
on the whole armour of God which he carefully describes and speaks of
fighting the good fight of faith or using weapons that are not the
weapons of this world but that can demolish arguments and pretensions
and so on.
So here is another important
reminder. We are in a war and we need to be ready to fight. The
Christian life is not a picnic it is a battleground. Be on guard.
Quit yourselves as men.
2. Realise that there is an
inheritance to be won
In
this second census the allotment in the Promised land is also very
much in mind. See 52-56
The LORD said to Moses, The land is to be allotted to them as an
inheritance based on the number of names. To a larger group give a
larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to
receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed. Be
sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits
will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. Each
inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller
groups.
The
land would soon be divided by lot – random then to a certain extent
but taking into account the size of the different tribes. We too
today have an inheritance to receive – not just in heaven but also
here on earth, not property but the blessings of walking with Christ
day by day.
Remember your God given
inheritance in Christ. Be thankful for it.
3. Never forget your need of God's grace
The other thing to note here
perhaps is that these now 601,730, as we said on Chapter 1, represent
about two million. Some scoff at these large numbers and point out
that Sinai is a desert area anyway. It is impossible they claim that
so many could have come from just 12 men and try to explain it by
saying that the figures are wrong or that thousand just means “unit”
(eg of 500). They also raise questions over how many could be
sustained in such a place. But they are forgetting the power of God
and the miraculous way he provided the water and quails and manna
that the people were enjoying at that time. They forget that, as
Calvin says, “the intention of the Spirit is to represent to our
eyes the incredible power of God in a conspicuous and signal
miracle”. If we forget that not only will we get nothing from this
passage but we will also fail to live by faith as we are expected
too. Israel's problem was that they found it so hard to simply depend
on God. We find it hard too but it is our only hope.
In
verses 57-62 we have the Levites dealt with separately. The reason
given is that they
received no inheritance among the
other tribes.
They were not involved in the ordinary fighting but they were
required to encamp around the tabernacle and guard it. Whenever they
would move it was the Levites job to take down the tabernacle, to
carry it and then to re-erect to wherever they came next.
Again
it is all a very long time ago in a very different setting but again
there are lessons we can learn.
The
very existence of a priesthood was a reminder of the need of
mediation. Yes, God desired their worship but they could only draw
near in the ways he had set down and through the High Priest Aaron
and the help of the Levitical priesthood. Now just as the tabernacle
is fulfilled in Christ so the priesthood is fulfilled chiefly in
Christ. He is the One Mediator between man and God. The only way to
the Father is through the Son. At the same time whereas in Israel the
priests came from only one tribe not all twelve in Christ every
believe, man or woman, boy or girl, is his own priest and can come to
god through Christ himself. Further we all benefit from those who
minister the Word to us in Christ (those who guard the worship and
serve, those who in Paul's words Romans 15:20 – engage in the
priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God)
for which we should be thankful.
Perhaps
we can also note the history of the tribe of Levi. You may remember
that it was Levi and Simeon who in an attempt to avenge their sister
committed a bloodthirsty claim against the Shechemites. This had led
to the prophecy that they would be scattered in Israel. In Simeon's
case that was fulfilled in Israel in that their towns were scattered
throughout Judah. As for Levi, it was perhaps because they rallied to
Moses at Sinai when Israel was in rebellion that they were made
priests. Certainly they were made the priestly tribe (rather than the
eldest in each house being priest) which is a great privilege but
later involved being scattered in Israel as they had to live in
priestly towns all over the country. There was some pride, perhaps,
in being a Levite, there was some humiliation too, given the history.
Being a Christian is like that too. Yes, it is a glorious thing but
it begins by confessing your sin and humbling yourself before God.
5. Learn about God's mercy and
severity
The
final verses say (63-65)
These
are the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they
counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across
from Jericho. Not
one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest
when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. For the LORD
had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness,
and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua
son of Nun.
The
severity of God is clear here then but also his mercy. Despite
everything a new generation has been raised up, the one that under
Joshua would soon enter the Promised Land.
