Reading
SAA Notes
Those who argue on the basis of David’s words on the sin of his census that Christians shouldn’t take part in censuses should read this chapter. The Lord commands Moses to take a census of Israel. There is a time and a place for everything under the sun! Judah and Joseph are the strongest tribes! These two tribes become rivals in Israel like Euodia and Syntyche in the church at Philippi.
SJA Notes
* Holy God, Your word maintains truth and is true. Please teach us today.
“… All those listed were 603,550.”
Israel were growing into a mighty nation!
Here is something a little different from a martial perspective, a whole tribe were not included in the census!
The Levite tribe were expect, as we read,
“… So that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel.”
The Levites were not to be an army that battled other nations, they were not to camp by their companies and by their own standards.
Instead they were to camp around the tabernacle, to keep guard over it.
Why?
Regardless of how powerful Israel could ever be, it is the wrath of God that matters!
Even half a million soldiers can’t compare to the power of the Almighty.
Israel needed to be protected from profaning the tabernacle and being consumed by the wrath of the Lord.
This is what Jesus did while on earth, this and more. Jesus did what the Levites could not do.
The Levites guarded the earthly tabernacle, where God would meet with man, seated above the ark.
Jesus took the wrath of God on Himself.
Jesus protected His people by taking on that consuming wrath Himself.
Clearly understanding this is important, because it frames how we as God’s people go about our lives.
Pauls says in Romans 6,
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”
And down a little further,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Here is our God and King, our Saviour!
* Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the work of Jesus, that He as Son took on Your wrath Himself, so that we Your people could obtain the free gift of eternal life.
Please help us show Your love, Your grace and mercy, to those around us today.
Amen.