In our study of the book of Numbers, we will look at how the Israelites survived in the wilderness and apply it to our lives as Christians. The book is named this because of the fact that there are two censuses taken of the Israelites but there is much more to the book. The Hebrew title is Bemidar which means "In the desert" and it is a more fitting title. We shall see how this gives us a roadmap for surviving the wilderness which is this world.
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Adonai spoke to Moshe in the Sinai Desert, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt. He said, âTake a census of the entire assembly of the people of Israâel, by clans and families. Record the names of all the men twenty years old and over who are subject to military service in Israâel. You and Aharon are to enumerate them company by company.
The Israelites were about to set off on an eleven day journey to the promised land of Canaan. When they got there, they would be required to trust in the Lord and to drive out the people that were there. As a first step, God told Moses to count the men that could serve in the army. All military campaigns begin with an assessment of troop strength and this was the purpose of the census. We must remember that God knew their strength but the leaders did not. We also see that they were to write down the name of each soldier individually. This is a reminder that God knows each and every one of us personally. God also gave them a minimum age of twenty years which reminds us that God bases some things on our physical age. At about the age of thirteen, a boy was considered to be a man but we see that they are not immediately ready to join the army and fight. That is a reminder to us that there is a certain period of time after we come to faith in Jesus that we are to put down roots in the faith and mature. After we have this time to grow in the faith, we are prepared to survive this wilderness fight.
Take with you from each tribe someone who is head of a clan. These are the men to take with you: From Reâuven, Elitzur the son of Shâdeâur;
God gave Moses the instructions for conducting the census. They were to be helped by one man from each of the tribes and God gave them the names of the men. This is a reminder to us that God knows each of us personally and He knows our names. As we look at the names we will see that they all point to the fact that it is God who will guide us through this wilderness of life. The first name that was given was Elizur and, in Hebrew, the meaning is "my God is a rock". He was the son of Shedeur which means "light of the Almighty". This obviously points us to the fact that it is God that gives us the wisdom to handle the trials of the wilderness.
From Shimâon, Shlumiâel the son of Tzurishaddai;
Shelumiel means "peace of God" and Zurishaddai means "rock of the Almighty". In our travels through this world we will face all kinds of trials just as Israel did but, if we have faith, God will put peace in our hearts. When we remember that our peace comes from Him and not our surroundings or events, we will not be shaken and stray off course.
From Yâhudah, Nachshon the son of âAmminadav;
The name Nahshon means "enchanter" and speaks of one that is able to see and understand omens or signs. He was the son of Amminadab which means "my kinsman is noble". Israel had visible signs of the presence of God with them in the desert. We, too, have signs all around us of the presence of God in our walk. Many of us miss these signs as we get too busy to take the time to see while others have been taught that God is just watching from heaven instead of being active in our daily lives. "My kinsman is noble" speaks of the fact that God was going to send His Son to pay for our sins.
From Yissakhar, Nâtanâel the son of Tzuâar;
The Hebrew meaning of Zuar is "little one" and for Nethanel it is "given of God". The selection of Nethanel speaks of the fact that Jesus would come to the earth as a baby. This baby would grow up to die for our sins and to give us access to the Father and the Spirit. It is this Spirit that will guide us through our own wilderness.
From Zâvulun, Eliâav the son of Helon.
Eliab which means "God is father" was the son of Helon which means "be firm or endure". God was telling Israel that they could endure anything that they faced because He was on their side. They would need that assurance as they faced the elements of the desert as well as enemies in the land. The same promise is for us through Jesus Christ. We overcome through the power of our heavenly Father.
Of the children of Yosef: From Efrayim, Elishama the son of âAmmihud; From Mânasheh, Gamliâel the son of Pâdahtzur.
The tribe of Levi is not represented because their duties were service to the Lord. In their place, God selected descendants from both of Joseph's sons. Ammihud means "people of praise" and Elishama "God has heard". This reminds us that our duty is to praise God and he will take care of everything. Gamaliel means "God's reward" while Pedahzur means "strong savior" which reminds us that our reward is found in Jesus Christ.
From Binyamin, Avidan the son of Gidâoni;
Gideoni means "feller or hewer" as in someone who would cut down a tree while Abidan , means "my father is judge". The selection of this man was an omen of the fact that Israel would rebel as they did not trust God. As we shall see, God judged those who would not trust Him and enter the promised land. They were forced to wander in the desert until they died. This is a picture of the fact that we can either trust in Jesus Christ or we can wander around in this wilderness by ourselves. We are warned that, at the end of the wandering, will be judgment for the disobedient.
From Dan, Achiâezer the son of âAmmishaddai;
In Hebrew, the name Ammishaddai means "kinsman of Almighty" and Ahiezer means "brother is help". In these names we see the fact that Jesus Christ the Son of God is our helper in our wanderings. It also reminds us that we are, in fact, the brothers of Jesus as we accept Him as our Lord and Savior and are adopted into the family of God.
From Asher, Pagâiâel the son of âOkhran;
Okran means "disturber" and Pagiel "God's intervention" and we are reminded that it is only through God's intervention that we are saved. As we navigate this world, it is easy to get caught up in our own efforts. We are reminded that it is the effort of God that sustains us and not our own work.
From Gad, Elyasaf the son of Deâuâel;
The name Eliasaph means "the Lord increaseth" and Deuel "knowledge of God". This reminds us that our trials and travels in this world have a purpose. That purpose is to increase our knowledge and understanding of who God is and who we are in relation to Him. We are reminded that it is God through the Holy Spirit that provides us with this knowledge.
From Naftali, Achira the son of âEnan.â
In Hebrew, Enan means "having eyes" and Ahira "my brother is friend". This speaks of the fact that Jesus is our friend and brother. He sees all of our struggles and is there to comfort and to guide us.
These were the ones called from the assembly, the chiefs of their fathersâ clans and heads of thousands in Israâel. So Moshe and Aharon took these men who had been designated by name; and, on the first day of the second month, they gathered the whole assembly to state their genealogies by families and clans and recorded the names of all those twenty years old and over, as well as their total numbers. Moshe counted them in the Sinai Desert, just as Adonai had ordered him.
With God's hand-picked helpers, Moses and Aaron completed the census at Mount Sinai.
The men twenty years old and over who were subject to military service were recorded by name, family and clan, starting with the descendants of Reâuven, Israâelâs firstborn. Here are the totals: Descendants of Reâuven 46,500
The number of men ready for battle from the tribe is given and we are reminded that Reuben was the firstborn son of Israel. In Genesis 49, Jacob prophesied about his sons and he described Reuben as turbulent meaning he was indecisive. His descendants were characterized by this trait and were about to take that with them into the wilderness. They would be called to trade that indecision for the solid rock that is the wisdom of God.
Descendants of Shimâon 59,300
The next tribe was that of Simeon and Jacob had described them as an angry people. Anger is usually a sign of worry which is the opposite of peace. During this wilderness march, they would be called to trade that anger in for the peace of God.
Descendants of Gad 45,650
The next tribe is that of Gad and Jacob had prophesied that they would be attacked but would also attack the heels of their attackers. They were a relatively small tribe but through faith the Lord would increase their strength.
Descendants of Yâhudah 74,600
The next tribe was that of Judah and Jacob had described them as rulers or leaders. They were large in number but would be asked to read the signs and trust in God and not their own strength.
Descendants of Yissakhar 54,400
In Genesis 49, Jacob described Issachar as being comfortable and willing to submit to forced labor. In this march to the promised land, they would be given the opportunity to turn that attitude over to God. They would be given the chance to submit to the will of God instead of the will of men. The same thing is true for us as Christians in the world today. We can be comfortable with the things of this world and labor to get them or we can choose to serve the Lord. Once again, this is a personal decision as God deals with our hearts on an individual basis.
Descendants of Zâvulun 57,400
Jacob had prophesied that the descendants of Zebulun would be traders or what we would call businessmen. During this march they would be asked to trust in their heavenly Father instead of their ability to earn their sustenance.
Descendants of Efrayim 40,500 Descendants of Mânasheh 32,200
The Levites did not serve in the army so the two sons of Joseph are listed separately. Jacob had said that Joseph would be a fruitful vine and he was as we see here.
Descendants of Binyamin 35,400
In Genesis 49, Jacob described Benjamin as a ravenous wolf but, on this march, they would be asked to let God be the judge and trust in Him. That lesson still applies for us today as it is easy to fall into a judgmental mindset but we must trust that God knows all and will repay all.
Descendants of Dan 62,700
Dan was described by Jacob as exhibiting justice. On this journey, his descendants which were many would look out for the interests of the rest of the tribes.
Descendants of Asher 41,500
Jacob prophesied that Asher would have food that was fit for a king. This journey was through a desert wasteland where they would have to trust in God to provide for their needs.
Descendants of Naftali 53,400
In Genesis 49, Jacob said that Naphtali would be like a female deer that is set free and produces beautiful fawns.
Moshe, Aharon and the twelve leaders of Israâel, each from a clan, counted the people of Israâel by their clans, those twenty years old and over, eligible for military service in Israâel; and the grand total came to 603,550.
The total number of men in Israel's army is given and we remember that only 70 people had entered the land of Egypt.
But those who were Lâviâim, according to the clan of their fathers, were not counted in this census; because Adonai had told Moshe, âDo not include the clan of Levi when you take the census of the people of Israâel. Instead, give the Lâviâim charge over the tabernacle of the testimony, its equipment and everything else connected with it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its equipment, serve in it and set up their camp around it. When the tabernacle is to be moved onward, it is the Lâviâim who are to take it down and set it up in the new location; anyone else who involves himself is to be put to death.
The Levites were not to be counted with the other tribes as they were set apart by God. He had told Moses to appoint them to serve God at the tabernacle and they are a picture of us as Christians. Like the Levites, we are called to walk with the others in this world but we are not to become entangled in its troubles. Our only duty is to listen and to obey the Holy Spirit.
The rest of Israâel are to set up camp, company by company, each man with his own banner. But the Lâviâim are to camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that no anger will come upon the assembly of the people of Israâel. The Lâviâim are to be in charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.â This is what the people of Israâel did â they did everything that Adonai had ordered Moshe.
The Levites were to camp around the tabernacle so that members of the other tribes could not accidentally stumble into the tabernacle and die. In the same way, we, as Christians, walk in this world with the responsibility to let other people know how they can avoid the wrath of God.
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