“Take a Census”
Numbers: Life in the Wilderness
January 14, 2007
Numbers 1:1-2:34
Last week, we started a new series for 2007 on the Book of Numbers which I have entitled, “Life in the Wilderness.”
The people of God are camped in the wilderness at the base of Mount Sinai. They have been rescued by God from the Egyptians and for one year have lived here, receiving the Law and building the Tabernacle.
And in chapter 1, the Book of Numbers has its exciting kick-off! The LORD tells Moses to...take a census!
Wow. It doesn’t get more exciting than that, does it?!
I don’t know about you, but I always feel like I’m reading the Verizon Yellow Pages when I when get to this part of the Bible.
My eyes begin to glaze over, my head cocks to the right, a bead of drool forms on my beard, and if I don’t do something quick, I begin to doze right there between Numbers chapter 1 and chapter 2.
But...as we said last week, this is holy Scripture. It is God-breathed. And God doesn’t waste His breath. These are important words.
And they would have been very important to the Israelites who first heard and read them!
You see, facts and numbers are important to people when they realize what they stand for.
There are two pages in the newspaper full of numbers that I don’t understand and that don’t mean much of anything to me.
The sports page talks about RBI’s and ERA’s and rushing yards and third down completions and box scores. And while I know what they are, I just can’t get myself to care very much.
And the financial page talks about the Dow Jones Index and the S&P 500. [By the way, I am indebted to Iain Duguid for both the idea of this section and these particular illustrations. Very helpful!] The Wall Street Journal has just pages of numbers listed on it, and they don’t mean a blessed thing to me.
But both of those sets of numbers are important to many many people.
Numbers get to be important to people when they realize what they really stand for and mean to them.
So, as we [yawn], take a census with Moses, let’s ask ourselves what theses census numbers point to. What they mean. What they stand for. What they show–specifically about God and His people.
Numbers chapter 1, verse 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: ‘Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. These are the names of the men who are to assist you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar; from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon; from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur; from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni; from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai; from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran; from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel; from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.’ These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel. Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been given, and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month [same day]. The people indicated their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, as the LORD commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:”
Okay, let’s see what’s here.
God tells them to take a census of the people–which people? You can tell what the purpose of a census is by who is counted.
Who is to be counted? [All of the men 20 years old or older who are able to fight.]
What kind of a census is this?
It’s a military census for mustering up an army.
Each tribe [how many tribes are there? Who’s missing from the list? Levi, we’ll see why in a little bit. Why are there still 12 tribes if Levi is missing? Joseph’s two son each get a portion.] Each tribe is represented by a leader who is to assist Moses in the counting.
Let’s do a census according to these rules right now right here.
Let’s pretend that we are all in the tribe of Simeon and Shelumiel son of Zurishadai is counting our men. All of the men 20 years old or older who could fight if they had to, please stand up.
Can we get a count? [Count] Thank you, you may sit down.
Imagine the seriousness of this census when it was originally taken. The dignity, solemnity, even beauty of all of these men standing up and being counted. And all of the family and clan honor that was being communicated.
And the excitement! Have you ever seen a war movie, when massive forces on either side of the battle ride up on a hillside and face each other with their horses snorting and their banners waving in the air?
This roll call must have made people excited!
Where do you think this army was headed?
This army, with all of the people attached to it, was headed for the Promised Land. The first 10 chapters of Numbers are about God’s people getting ready to march into the Promised Land and make it theirs.
And is it a small army or a big one?
Let’s look at the actual census. Verse 20.
“From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500. From the descendants of Simeon: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300. From the descendants of Gad: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650. From the descendants of Judah...74,600. From the descendants of Issachar...54,400. From the descendants of Zebulun...57,400. From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: 40,500. From the descendants of Manasseh: 32,200. From the descendants of Benjamin...35,400. From the descendants of Dan...62,700. From the descendants of Asher....41,500. From the descendants of Naphtali...53,400. [Time to tally it up. V.44] These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. The total number was 603,550.”
603,550.
Big army or little one?
Very big!
Even if these numbers are exaggerated to meet Ancient Near Eastern standards for numerical reports to emphasize God’s amazing power at work in them [as some very good scholars believe], they still point to an awesome sized army and people with them.
How many people here at Lanse Free Church today?
How many did our census say?
If there are 603,550 fighting men in Israel, there are probably more than 2 million Israelites camped at the base of Mount Sinai!
Those are some important numbers, aren’t they?
Now, we find out what happened to the Levites. Look at verse 47.
“The families of the tribe of Levi, however, were not counted along with the others. The LORD had said to Moses: ‘You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony–over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 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 goes near it shall be put to death. The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard. The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony.’ The Israelites did all this just as the LORD commanded Moses.”
We’ll learn a lot more about the Levites next week in chapters 3 and 4. For now, it’s important to see that the Levites were not to be counted as part of the army; they have a special job–taking care of and guarding the tabernacle. Notice, however, that they are actually guarding the people from the tabernacle! V.53
“The Levites...are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community.”
There’s a reminder that God is holy!
Now, we’re getting into the organization of the camp itself.
According to chapter 1, the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle.
Where are all the other tribes supposed to camp? Chapter 2.
“The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: ‘The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family.’ On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. His division numbers 74,600. The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. His division numbers 54,400. The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. [These are all the same names and numbers as appeared in chapter 1. They must be important to get repeated like this.] His division numbers 57,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first. [Notice what’s going on; each of the tribes have been assigned to a lead-camp made of 3 tribes. The first was Judah on the East. V.10] On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. His division numbers 46,500. The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. His division numbers 59,300. The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. His division numbers 45,650. All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.”
“Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his standard. [We’ll learn more about that next week.]”
“On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. His division numbers 40,500. The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. His division numbers 32,200. The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. His division numbers 35,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.”
And last, “On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. His division numbers 62,700. The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran. His division numbers 41,500. The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. His division numbers 53,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.”
“These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All those in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses. So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.”
Here’s a picture of chapter 2. [Chart]
Notice the lead tribes of Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan.
The East is the most important of the directions (not North) because the tabernacle faced East.
Notice who has the most important spot. It isn’t Jacob’s firstborn, is it?
Judah. Remember Jacob’s prophecy about Judah in Genesis 39? It’s come true. And it will come true even more.
And Ephraim. Wasn’t he the younger son of Joseph? God doesn’t always do it the way we think He will, does He? Remember Jacob telling Joseph that Ephraim will be over Manasseh at the end of Genesis? Guess what? His prophecy came, true, too.
Now, let’s crunch the numbers!
What do we have here in Numbers chapters 1 and 2?
What do we see that’s important?
What do these census numbers show us?
I have 3 points this morning. And they all apply to our lives.
#1. GOD’S PEOPLE BLESSED AS PROMISED.
This census shows us God’s people blessed as promised.
Pop Quiz: What are the three main promises of the Abrahamic Covenant?
[Land, Offspring, Blessing.] That’s what God has promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
We said last week that they don’t have the land, but it looks like it’s coming soon.
What about offspring?
603,550 fighting men in Israel! Probably 2 million people in Israel.
How many went down into Egypt? 70, right?
From one man, Jacob/Israel to 2 million.
Blessed as promised.
This census shows us that God always keeps His promises.
That’s an important reason to take a census, isn’t it?
Remember, these are real people with real names.
And they were registering to fight for their share of the Promised Land.
Israel had experienced the blessing of God.
God’s people blessed as promised.
Here’s the application: trust Him!
Even when His promises seem so impossible to fulfill, trust Him, He knows what He is doing.
For some of you, that means trust Him for the first time.
Put your faith in God for salvation.
Jesus Christ died on the Cross for the sins of all who believe in Him.
And it might seem impossible for you to be forgiven and to get eternal life.
But that’s exactly what He offers if you will turn from your sins and trust in Him.
If God can make a nation out of one single solitary man, He can save you from your sins.
Trust Him.
For many of us, that’s a familiar phrase that we’ve said again and again: Trust Him.
But this week will present new challenges.
We live “in the wilderness” – rescued but not quite in the Promised Land.
So, we’re going to have to trust Him again and again.
What are you facing right now that is tempting you to not trust God?
This census shows us that God can be trusted to keep His promises.
And He’ll do it for you, too.
Do you know His promises? Do you know what He has promised all of His children?
Dive into this book and take hold of every great and precious promise.
Each one is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ for the good of each of God’s children.
Trust Him.
#2. GOD’S PEOPLE STANDING UP TO BE COUNTED.
Now, it’s not always going to be true of Israel in this book, but in the first four chapters, Israel is highly obedient!
Look at chapter 1, verse 18: “The people indicated their anceestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Look at verse 54: “The Israelites did all this just as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Look at chapter 2, verse 34. “So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.”
These are two chapters that picture an obedient nation standing up to be counted and arranging themselves in marching order.
No one here is a census evader.
No one here is a draft dodger.
Everyone is either in or out.
They are grouped together by families (which we saw all Fall are very important to the Lord).
They do not lose their individuality but, at the same time, know how they are connected to the larger group.
And they are all standing up to be counted for the Lord’s army.
I don’t think it’s much of a stretch for us to us to apply this to ourselves.
Are we standing up to be counted as the Lord’s?
Do our lives cry out that we belong to the Lord and are available to His cause?
Or are we hiding in the background? Hoping to be included, but not wanting to be counted?
Are you standing up in your family?
Are you standing up at work?
Are you standing up in the community?
I’m not asking do you make yourself offensive to people in the Lord’s name and shove it down people’s throats.
But I am asking if our allegiances are clear.
If people know that we are Christians and that we belong to a great Rescuer and King who is offering them amnesty for their sins if they will trust in Him and follow Him by faith.
Are we standing up and being counted for Christ?
My boys like to sing this little ditty:
I May Never March in the Infantry,
Ride in the Cavalry, Shoot the Artillery
I May Never Zoom O’er the Enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s Army, Yes Sir!
I’m in the Lord’s Army, Yes Sir!
I’m in the Lord’s Army, Yes Sir!
I May Never March in the Infantry,
Ride in the Cavalry, Shoot the Artillery
I May Never Zoom O’er the Enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s Army!
You know what? That’s not optional.
God doesn’t have an alternative membership plan for us to check off.
If we belong to Him, we need to stand up and be counted as His.
This census calls us to stand up for Jesus.
Is there a situation in your life right now where God is calling you to take stand?
Maybe it’s time to raise the flag with your co-workers.
Maybe it’s time to have that conversation about the gospel with your friend or family member.
Maybe it’s time to make a radical decision as part of following Christ in discipleship.
Whatever it its, trust God and do it!
Stand up and be counted!
And #3. GOD’S PEOPLE CENTERED ON GOD’S PRESENCE.
This census shows us not just God’s people blessed as promised and standing up to be counted, but it also shows us God’s people centered on God’s presence.
Did you notice (I didn’t draw attention to it), where the Tent of Meeting stands in relation to all of the tribes? [Chart again.]
Smack dab in the middle.
That’s no accident.
Nothing in the first two chapters of Numbers is here by accident.
These chapters are a model of organization and symmetry and everything in its place.
And God’s place is right at the center of His people.
Remember that God showed up on the top of the mountain?
And then He was showing up at the edge of the camp?
Now He’s taken up residence in His tabernacle (both symbolically and somehow in actuality) in the very center of His people.
It’s not hard to imagine the application of that:
Center Your Life on Him!
In the ancient world, the royal tent was oftten in the center of the army as it marched.
The King took His position among His people. As one of them–but also as the focus of them all.
This census shows us God’s people centered on God’s presence.
Center your life on Him.
It’s really the same idea as the Biggest Rock from our illustration two weeks ago. Is Jesus Christ the Biggest Rock in your jar?
Is He the controlling center of your life?
That’s another way of talking about worship.
Worship isn’t just singing songs into the air on Sunday mornings.
Worship is orienting your life around the Lord.
This census calls us to take stock of our priorities again, and ask ourselves the hard questions.
Does my life shout that I am centered on the Lord Jesus?
Or has something else crept in?
What would happen if Simeon decided that he wanted to be in the middle?
The Levites would cut him down! Or the wrath of God would break out on him.
Only the Lord deserves to be in that center spot.
What changes do you and I need to make to make sure that He is?
Is it a sin needing confessed and held accountable to?
Is it a new level of focus given to Bible study and prayer?
Is it a relationship that needs mended?
Is it a priority that needs adjusted?
Is it a fresh initiative to seek the Lord in a new way?
Whatever it takes, we need to center our lives on Him.
God’s People Blessed As Promised. Trust Him!
God’s People Standing Up to Be Counted. Stand Up for Him!
God’s People Centered On God’s Presence. Center Your Life on Him!
Numbers: Life in the Wilderness
January 14, 2007
Numbers 1:1-2:34
Last week, we started a new series for 2007 on the Book of Numbers which I have entitled, “Life in the Wilderness.”
The people of God are camped in the wilderness at the base of Mount Sinai. They have been rescued by God from the Egyptians and for one year have lived here, receiving the Law and building the Tabernacle.
And in chapter 1, the Book of Numbers has its exciting kick-off! The LORD tells Moses to...take a census!
Wow. It doesn’t get more exciting than that, does it?!
I don’t know about you, but I always feel like I’m reading the Verizon Yellow Pages when I when get to this part of the Bible.
My eyes begin to glaze over, my head cocks to the right, a bead of drool forms on my beard, and if I don’t do something quick, I begin to doze right there between Numbers chapter 1 and chapter 2.
But...as we said last week, this is holy Scripture. It is God-breathed. And God doesn’t waste His breath. These are important words.
And they would have been very important to the Israelites who first heard and read them!
You see, facts and numbers are important to people when they realize what they stand for.
There are two pages in the newspaper full of numbers that I don’t understand and that don’t mean much of anything to me.
The sports page talks about RBI’s and ERA’s and rushing yards and third down completions and box scores. And while I know what they are, I just can’t get myself to care very much.
And the financial page talks about the Dow Jones Index and the S&P 500. [By the way, I am indebted to Iain Duguid for both the idea of this section and these particular illustrations. Very helpful!] The Wall Street Journal has just pages of numbers listed on it, and they don’t mean a blessed thing to me.
But both of those sets of numbers are important to many many people.
Numbers get to be important to people when they realize what they really stand for and mean to them.
So, as we [yawn], take a census with Moses, let’s ask ourselves what theses census numbers point to. What they mean. What they stand for. What they show–specifically about God and His people.
Numbers chapter 1, verse 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: ‘Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you. These are the names of the men who are to assist you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar; from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon; from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur; from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni; from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai; from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran; from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel; from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.’ These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel. Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been given, and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month [same day]. The people indicated their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, as the LORD commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:”
Okay, let’s see what’s here.
God tells them to take a census of the people–which people? You can tell what the purpose of a census is by who is counted.
Who is to be counted? [All of the men 20 years old or older who are able to fight.]
What kind of a census is this?
It’s a military census for mustering up an army.
Each tribe [how many tribes are there? Who’s missing from the list? Levi, we’ll see why in a little bit. Why are there still 12 tribes if Levi is missing? Joseph’s two son each get a portion.] Each tribe is represented by a leader who is to assist Moses in the counting.
Let’s do a census according to these rules right now right here.
Let’s pretend that we are all in the tribe of Simeon and Shelumiel son of Zurishadai is counting our men. All of the men 20 years old or older who could fight if they had to, please stand up.
Can we get a count? [Count] Thank you, you may sit down.
Imagine the seriousness of this census when it was originally taken. The dignity, solemnity, even beauty of all of these men standing up and being counted. And all of the family and clan honor that was being communicated.
And the excitement! Have you ever seen a war movie, when massive forces on either side of the battle ride up on a hillside and face each other with their horses snorting and their banners waving in the air?
This roll call must have made people excited!
Where do you think this army was headed?
This army, with all of the people attached to it, was headed for the Promised Land. The first 10 chapters of Numbers are about God’s people getting ready to march into the Promised Land and make it theirs.
And is it a small army or a big one?
Let’s look at the actual census. Verse 20.
“From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500. From the descendants of Simeon: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300. From the descendants of Gad: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650. From the descendants of Judah...74,600. From the descendants of Issachar...54,400. From the descendants of Zebulun...57,400. From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: 40,500. From the descendants of Manasseh: 32,200. From the descendants of Benjamin...35,400. From the descendants of Dan...62,700. From the descendants of Asher....41,500. From the descendants of Naphtali...53,400. [Time to tally it up. V.44] These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. The total number was 603,550.”
603,550.
Big army or little one?
Very big!
Even if these numbers are exaggerated to meet Ancient Near Eastern standards for numerical reports to emphasize God’s amazing power at work in them [as some very good scholars believe], they still point to an awesome sized army and people with them.
How many people here at Lanse Free Church today?
How many did our census say?
If there are 603,550 fighting men in Israel, there are probably more than 2 million Israelites camped at the base of Mount Sinai!
Those are some important numbers, aren’t they?
Now, we find out what happened to the Levites. Look at verse 47.
“The families of the tribe of Levi, however, were not counted along with the others. The LORD had said to Moses: ‘You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony–over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 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 goes near it shall be put to death. The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each man in his own camp under his own standard. The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the Testimony.’ The Israelites did all this just as the LORD commanded Moses.”
We’ll learn a lot more about the Levites next week in chapters 3 and 4. For now, it’s important to see that the Levites were not to be counted as part of the army; they have a special job–taking care of and guarding the tabernacle. Notice, however, that they are actually guarding the people from the tabernacle! V.53
“The Levites...are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the Testimony so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community.”
There’s a reminder that God is holy!
Now, we’re getting into the organization of the camp itself.
According to chapter 1, the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle.
Where are all the other tribes supposed to camp? Chapter 2.
“The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: ‘The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family.’ On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. His division numbers 74,600. The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. His division numbers 54,400. The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. [These are all the same names and numbers as appeared in chapter 1. They must be important to get repeated like this.] His division numbers 57,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first. [Notice what’s going on; each of the tribes have been assigned to a lead-camp made of 3 tribes. The first was Judah on the East. V.10] On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. His division numbers 46,500. The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. His division numbers 59,300. The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. His division numbers 45,650. All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.”
“Then the Tent of Meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in his own place under his standard. [We’ll learn more about that next week.]”
“On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. His division numbers 40,500. The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. His division numbers 32,200. The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. His division numbers 35,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.”
And last, “On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standard. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. His division numbers 62,700. The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran. His division numbers 41,500. The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. His division numbers 53,400. All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.”
“These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All those in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses. So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.”
Here’s a picture of chapter 2. [Chart]
Notice the lead tribes of Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan.
The East is the most important of the directions (not North) because the tabernacle faced East.
Notice who has the most important spot. It isn’t Jacob’s firstborn, is it?
Judah. Remember Jacob’s prophecy about Judah in Genesis 39? It’s come true. And it will come true even more.
And Ephraim. Wasn’t he the younger son of Joseph? God doesn’t always do it the way we think He will, does He? Remember Jacob telling Joseph that Ephraim will be over Manasseh at the end of Genesis? Guess what? His prophecy came, true, too.
Now, let’s crunch the numbers!
What do we have here in Numbers chapters 1 and 2?
What do we see that’s important?
What do these census numbers show us?
I have 3 points this morning. And they all apply to our lives.
#1. GOD’S PEOPLE BLESSED AS PROMISED.
This census shows us God’s people blessed as promised.
Pop Quiz: What are the three main promises of the Abrahamic Covenant?
[Land, Offspring, Blessing.] That’s what God has promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
We said last week that they don’t have the land, but it looks like it’s coming soon.
What about offspring?
603,550 fighting men in Israel! Probably 2 million people in Israel.
How many went down into Egypt? 70, right?
From one man, Jacob/Israel to 2 million.
Blessed as promised.
This census shows us that God always keeps His promises.
That’s an important reason to take a census, isn’t it?
Remember, these are real people with real names.
And they were registering to fight for their share of the Promised Land.
Israel had experienced the blessing of God.
God’s people blessed as promised.
Here’s the application: trust Him!
Even when His promises seem so impossible to fulfill, trust Him, He knows what He is doing.
For some of you, that means trust Him for the first time.
Put your faith in God for salvation.
Jesus Christ died on the Cross for the sins of all who believe in Him.
And it might seem impossible for you to be forgiven and to get eternal life.
But that’s exactly what He offers if you will turn from your sins and trust in Him.
If God can make a nation out of one single solitary man, He can save you from your sins.
Trust Him.
For many of us, that’s a familiar phrase that we’ve said again and again: Trust Him.
But this week will present new challenges.
We live “in the wilderness” – rescued but not quite in the Promised Land.
So, we’re going to have to trust Him again and again.
What are you facing right now that is tempting you to not trust God?
This census shows us that God can be trusted to keep His promises.
And He’ll do it for you, too.
Do you know His promises? Do you know what He has promised all of His children?
Dive into this book and take hold of every great and precious promise.
Each one is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ for the good of each of God’s children.
Trust Him.
#2. GOD’S PEOPLE STANDING UP TO BE COUNTED.
Now, it’s not always going to be true of Israel in this book, but in the first four chapters, Israel is highly obedient!
Look at chapter 1, verse 18: “The people indicated their anceestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Look at verse 54: “The Israelites did all this just as the LORD commanded Moses.”
Look at chapter 2, verse 34. “So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each with his clan and family.”
These are two chapters that picture an obedient nation standing up to be counted and arranging themselves in marching order.
No one here is a census evader.
No one here is a draft dodger.
Everyone is either in or out.
They are grouped together by families (which we saw all Fall are very important to the Lord).
They do not lose their individuality but, at the same time, know how they are connected to the larger group.
And they are all standing up to be counted for the Lord’s army.
I don’t think it’s much of a stretch for us to us to apply this to ourselves.
Are we standing up to be counted as the Lord’s?
Do our lives cry out that we belong to the Lord and are available to His cause?
Or are we hiding in the background? Hoping to be included, but not wanting to be counted?
Are you standing up in your family?
Are you standing up at work?
Are you standing up in the community?
I’m not asking do you make yourself offensive to people in the Lord’s name and shove it down people’s throats.
But I am asking if our allegiances are clear.
If people know that we are Christians and that we belong to a great Rescuer and King who is offering them amnesty for their sins if they will trust in Him and follow Him by faith.
Are we standing up and being counted for Christ?
My boys like to sing this little ditty:
I May Never March in the Infantry,
Ride in the Cavalry, Shoot the Artillery
I May Never Zoom O’er the Enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s Army, Yes Sir!
I’m in the Lord’s Army, Yes Sir!
I’m in the Lord’s Army, Yes Sir!
I May Never March in the Infantry,
Ride in the Cavalry, Shoot the Artillery
I May Never Zoom O’er the Enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s Army!
You know what? That’s not optional.
God doesn’t have an alternative membership plan for us to check off.
If we belong to Him, we need to stand up and be counted as His.
This census calls us to stand up for Jesus.
Is there a situation in your life right now where God is calling you to take stand?
Maybe it’s time to raise the flag with your co-workers.
Maybe it’s time to have that conversation about the gospel with your friend or family member.
Maybe it’s time to make a radical decision as part of following Christ in discipleship.
Whatever it its, trust God and do it!
Stand up and be counted!
And #3. GOD’S PEOPLE CENTERED ON GOD’S PRESENCE.
This census shows us not just God’s people blessed as promised and standing up to be counted, but it also shows us God’s people centered on God’s presence.
Did you notice (I didn’t draw attention to it), where the Tent of Meeting stands in relation to all of the tribes? [Chart again.]
Smack dab in the middle.
That’s no accident.
Nothing in the first two chapters of Numbers is here by accident.
These chapters are a model of organization and symmetry and everything in its place.
And God’s place is right at the center of His people.
Remember that God showed up on the top of the mountain?
And then He was showing up at the edge of the camp?
Now He’s taken up residence in His tabernacle (both symbolically and somehow in actuality) in the very center of His people.
It’s not hard to imagine the application of that:
Center Your Life on Him!
In the ancient world, the royal tent was oftten in the center of the army as it marched.
The King took His position among His people. As one of them–but also as the focus of them all.
This census shows us God’s people centered on God’s presence.
Center your life on Him.
It’s really the same idea as the Biggest Rock from our illustration two weeks ago. Is Jesus Christ the Biggest Rock in your jar?
Is He the controlling center of your life?
That’s another way of talking about worship.
Worship isn’t just singing songs into the air on Sunday mornings.
Worship is orienting your life around the Lord.
This census calls us to take stock of our priorities again, and ask ourselves the hard questions.
Does my life shout that I am centered on the Lord Jesus?
Or has something else crept in?
What would happen if Simeon decided that he wanted to be in the middle?
The Levites would cut him down! Or the wrath of God would break out on him.
Only the Lord deserves to be in that center spot.
What changes do you and I need to make to make sure that He is?
Is it a sin needing confessed and held accountable to?
Is it a new level of focus given to Bible study and prayer?
Is it a relationship that needs mended?
Is it a priority that needs adjusted?
Is it a fresh initiative to seek the Lord in a new way?
Whatever it takes, we need to center our lives on Him.
God’s People Blessed As Promised. Trust Him!
God’s People Standing Up to Be Counted. Stand Up for Him!
God’s People Centered On God’s Presence. Center Your Life on Him!
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