Christ in all the scriptures
"The truth shall make you free!"
Bless your own word of truth, dear Lord to me As when you blessed the bread by Galilee Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall And I shall find my peace my All in all
Just a reminder that these studies are based on the soul releasing scriptures of truth. May we all be blessed in the consideration of them.
The Divine Census The book of Numbers
The book of Numbers is, as it suggests, a record of the Divine numbering of His people. We will first log the meticulous detail, and then observe the principles behind all this, as it reveals the character of our God.
Numbering for warfare Chapters 1-2 Numbered from 20 years old and upward.
Reuben 46,500; Simeon 59,700; Gad 45,650; Judah 74,600; Issachar 54, 400; Zebulun 57,400; Ephraim 40,500; Manasseh 32,200; Benjamin 35,400; Dan 62,700; Asher 41,500; Naphtali 53,400. Grand total able to go to war 603,550!
Numbering for worship Chapters 3-4 (The tribe of Levi) Numbered from one month old and upward.
Gershon 7,500; Kohath 8,600; Merari 6,200 Grand total 22,300. Of those fit to perform service, being 30 years old up to 50 years old and the numbers are as follows: Gershon 2,630; Kohath 2,750; Merari 3,200. Grand total 8,580 in active service in the tabernacle.
We might well ask, why is God so particular to number all these people? There are many reasons, some which we can offer here:
God wants His people to be engaged in His work under His watchful eye. God knows who they all are individually, since every one is counted. God knows where they all are at any point in time. God's plans for them was generational and provision extended beyond their own lifetime. God's discipline on individuals was for the greater good. God's reputation was to be manifested through them to the nations around. God's presence with them at all times was understood by all. God was just and merciful in all His dealings without respect of persons.
This was an impressive sight by any standards that instilled fear among the ungodly.
The trend continues in the New Testament in the creation of the Church, particularly in Acts where the constant theme is addition and multiplication: such was the swift growth and remarkable life changing power, it brought reverential fear to all around.
Acts 1v15 "The number of names together were about 120. Acts 2v41 "Then they that gladly received His word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about 3000 souls". Acts 4v4 "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed and the number of the men was about 5000". Acts 5v14 "And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women". Acts 6v7 "And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of priests were obedient to the faith". Acts 9v31 "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied". Acts 11v21-24 "And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord...for he (Barnabas) was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost, and much people was added to the Lord". Acts 16v5 "And so were the churches established in the faith and increased in numbers daily". Acts 19v20 "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed".
Within 30 years they had evangelised and established and edified many people in the habitable world. Today we hear more of division and subtraction, but our God is greater than our failure. Even the lethargy of the present Church will not deter Him for we read of His numbering beyond this present age:
Revelation 7v4 (when God seals His servants during the period of tribulation), "And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel". Supposedly in the minds of infidels, most of the tribes of Israel are lost! Not a bit of it...Judah 12,000; Reuben 12.000; Gad 12,000; Asher 12,000; Naphtali 12,000; Manasseh 12,000; Simeon 12,000; Levi 12,000; Issachar 12,000; Zebulun 12,000; Joseph 12,000; Benjamin 12,000. This doesn't say what the world is saying, that God is defeated, that faith is misplaced!! And there's more...
Revelation 7v9-10 "After this I beheld. and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried, saying, salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." This is the result of restored Israel finally fulfilling their calling, and reaping the great harvest of souls under God. This is global evangelism and the triumph of grace, and it is yet future! Not the opposition of demons, nor the cynicism of men, will prevent this worldwide blessing to come.
In Revelation 5v11 the combined gathering of angels of heaven, and redeemed from earth, around the throne of God is described as "ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands". On the surface this number sounds vast if we attempt to calculate it with our system of mathematics. Scholars tell us that in Hebrew terminology (and it is agreed that In Revelation John was using Hebrew symbolism), ten thousand is the highest number possible. In other words this number is incalculable, it is ten thousand (or any higher number) times ten thousand (or any higher number) and in your calculation count thousand as 1000 times 1000's: in other words innumerable as stated in Hebrews 12v22-23.
God started with one man, Abraham, called from idolatry, and the end result will be myriads and myriads of unfallen angels, and redeemed human beings around the throne of God and of the Lamb. As the hymnwriter puts it:
"What a gathering, what a gathering, what a gathering of the ransomed in that summer land of love. What a gathering, what a gathering of the ransomed in that happy home above"! We are privileged indeed to be part of this.
Redeemed human beings in heaven, so many they cannot be numbered. Yet they are all counted, they are all precious to God. Their welfare is God's eternal concern. He first made this clear when He numbered the hosts of Israel, as He dwelt among them in the desert. Through trials and tribulations, opposed by demons and men, hampered by infirmities, and schisms, and failures, yet the saints will prevail. As the song puts it, (and we thank God for the many inspired songs that strengthen our faith):
"We'll be there, we'll be there, on the dawn of that great day; When the saints gather home, gather home, gather home; We'll be there praise the Lord we'll all be there!"
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