Adult STS

ADULTS SEARCHSEARCH THE SCRIPTURE

ADULTS STS LESSON 111 NEW GENERATION OF ISRAEL NUMBERED

May 13, 2024

MEMORY VERSE: “To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.(Numbers 26:54).  

 

TEXT: Numbers 26:1-65

‘’AIl new creatures in Christ believe that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). The account of the census in our text that the Holy Spirit has preserved for us has its purpose in the Holy Writ. In the chapter, there are spiritual gems waiting to be discovered; and it centres on the exclusion and inclusion in the census of those who entered the earthly Promised Land of Canaan. It admonishes us of the great exclusion to come and the glorious inclusion in the number of people who will eventually inherit the new heaven and the new earth at the end of time. The command to count Israel, by their families, came to Moses and Eleazar after the plague that claimed the lives of 24,000 Israelites and before entering the long awaited land of Canaan after about forty years of leaving Egypt. The children of Israel were very close to the Promised Land. In terms of years, two years left to go in, and in geographical distance Canaan was next door. If they had resisted this last temptation, they could have become partakers of the promised blessing. Unfortunately, many of them sinned and sealed their doom (Numbers 14:28-30). How we need to be patient in order to possess our souls. Just a little while and He that shall come will come and will not tarry. Maybe there is one more battle to fight, one more act of patience, one more temptation to overcome and then comes the fulfilment of the long awaited promise. How we need to pray to be one of those who will through patience and faith inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12)! It will be glorious if, before our crowning day, we hold on to our profession not giving in to the devil or the world or the flesh or to our present light affliction. Then, we shall be in glory with the storms all past forevermore.

 

1. COMMAND TO NUMBER THE PEOPLE

Numbers 26:1-4; 1:1-4; 2 Samuel 24:1,2; John 6:10; Acts 2:41

In the first census, God commanded Moses to take the number of the children of Israel with specific instructions, after their deliverance from Egypt (Numbers 1:1-4); and Moses did as he was commanded. Here, comes another command with specific instructions not exactly like the former. “And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to war in Israel“ (Numbers 26:1,2). It is important that ministers and members of the household of faith diligently listen to the Lord and hearken to Him. God might have new instructions for carrying out the same activities we had done in the past. Carefulness and humility are must-have virtues. We recall how Moses got it right when he was commanded to strike the rock and water would come out for the children of Israel. But he failed to take heed to the details at the second time and God was displeased with him (Numbers 20:8-12). We need to take heed to His instructions if we must fulfil His plan and purpose for our lives, family and ministry. How dangerous to run when the Lord has not commanded! “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip“ (Hebrews 2:1). There is no room for self-will in the service of God. We do His biddings, and command those under us to do what He has instructed. In the case of David in Second Samuel, he was provoked to do what God did not command. In spite of the pleadings of the captains close to him to desist from what the Lord had not directed, he ignored their pleas, overruled them and later reaped the bitter fruits of his self-will. If leaders desire the blessings of God’s people that they lead, they must listen to the Chief Shepherd and desist from imposing their self-willed plans and programmes on the people. Though it appeared Moses and Eleazar were not told of the purpose of the census from the outset, they obeyed the Lord and did the counting according to His word. Thereafter, God revealed the reason. The counting was based on family units of the twelve tribes to ensure that every family was represented. Thus, every family unit is mentioned including the family of Zelophehad who had no sons but five daughters. Their names were mentioned, as well as the daughter of Asher, Sarah or Serah with the name of the mother of Moses, Jochebed and her daughter, Miriam. This mentioning appears significant. Even though sons are to be counted and were counted, these worthy daughters and mothers’ names were mentioned. This peculiarity suggests where God places us irrespective of our gender. He is the God of both males and females. The succeeding chapter attests to God’s disposition toward gender sensitivity as He responds to the request of the daughters of Zelophehad.

 

2. COMMENTS ON AND CONTRASTS IN FAMILY COUNTS

Numbers 26:5-10; 1:1-54; 26:64,65

The total number of Israelites at this second count was 1,820 less than the earlier census in Numbers chapter one (603,550 minus 601,730). This decrease is not in line with the promise and covenant of God for Israel. Truth is, blessings and increase follow those on the path of obedience to God. However, if we go by the count of each tribe, only five tribes experienced the decrease – Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim and Naphtali. In fact, the tribe of Simeon was hard hit with a decrease of 37,000. Some scholars have suggested that it is not impossible that the tribe lost so much to the plague since Zimri, a prince among the Simeonites who was slain by Phinchas (Numbers 25:6-14) might have influenced many people in his tribe to commit whoredom and idolatry. Census of the Levites was taken but not among the children of Israel. For them, numbering starts from the male child of a month old and upward. The total number of the Levites was 23,000. No comparison can be made as there is no record of their first census in accordance with what God commanded Moses (Numbers 1:49). In the record of the census, passing comments are made about some persons in some tribes. For example, within the family of Reuben, Dathan and Abiram, the men who led the rebellion against Moses and God were noted. It is instructive that the tribe is one of those that experienced decrease in number. Their judgment became a warning for would-be rebels. However, it is interesting that the Bible records: “Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not” (verse 1). They must have kept themselves from the rebellion or repented in time, thereby clearing themselves in order not to become partakers in other men’s (their father’s) sins (1 Timothy 5:22). For all who love their lives and would like to see good days, the Scripture says, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment” (Exodus 23:2). Since individuals will pay for their sins, there is no wisdom in following others, no matter how close, dear or important, to do evil. The two sons of Judah in Canaan – Er and Onan – were mentioned. How Judah got them through Hirah was described in Genesis 38:1-10. Judah went down from his brethren to Adullam to marry their mother. The two children were described as being “wicked in the sight of the LORD” and the Lord slew both of them. Our sons and daughters must consider the end of their choice in marriage and not act on impulse, infatuation and pressure from the world and religious trend of their day. The family of Amram was mentioned along with his wife, Jochebed and their three children – Aaron, Moses and Miriam.

A family of faith that raised a deliverer prophet, priest and prophetess for the Lord. It is instructive that both Amram and Jochebed were Levites. Together by faith, they refused to obey Pharaoh’s command to kill their male child, Moses, but raised him in the way of the Lord and helped prepare him for his divine assignment. The same way they raised Aaron and Miriam who were great and profitable leaders in Israel. God is still at work today for believers who will allow Him to lay the foundation of their marriage, leave the affairs of their family in His hands and follow divine blueprints for raising godly vessels unto His glory and honour. For those who had failed in this area, God is the Repairer and can lay a new foundation in their lives. It is sad that Nadab and Abihu, two of the children of Aaron, died without raising families because they offered strange fire before the Lord. Children of leaders who serve in God’s house should not become so familiar with His service that they set aside the divine blueprint and thereby dishonour Him.

 

3.THE CENSUS AND ITS PURPOSE

Numbers 26:52- 56; Genesis 22:1-3; 1 Corinthians 14:33

For whatever God commands, there is a reason which is always for our good. He gives the use of the census: “To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him“ (Numbers 26:54). Our all-knowing God is a God of order and works to promote peace and orderliness in His household. The inheritance was shared based on no other criteria, but the census. Similarly, the taking of attendance at our retreats, congresses and fellowship meetings has purpose. Compliance with directives from our leaders will engender peace and orderliness. So, it behooves every church to seek God’s guidance to promote peace and orderliness. As the Lord took measures to avert confusion, so leaders in the church must be proactive and take necessary steps. Family heads must be imitators of God in order to promote peace and orderliness in their households. Another significant reason for this census is suggested in the last two verses of the chapter. “But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun” (Numbers 26:64,65). Israel’s voyage from Egypt to Canaan was fraught with disobedience, rebellion, murmuring and complaints; hence the Lord swore that those who rebelled against Him would not enter the Promised Land; it came to pass. Though heaven and earth pass away, not a jot or tittle shall pass from God’s word until all is fulfilled. All that the Lord has said in the Scriptures about sinners, saints, this world, heaven, hell, His Son, the rapture, the great tribulation, new heaven and new earth, etc., are sure.

As He ensured that those unbelievers did not partake in the Promised Land, so also the ungodly shall not enter heaven if they continue and die in their sins (Revelation 21:27). What a great and grave exclusion! We are enjoined to believe all that God has spoken through His servants and seek Him while He may be found, ensuring that our names are in the Book of Life so that we shall not be excluded from the Holy City, the New Jerusalem at last. God has given the whole world a Saviour, the Lord, Jesus Christ; those who believe shall be saved from the wrath to come. But men and women, great and small, irrespective of their race, who refuse the only WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, have excluded themselves from God’s plan of salvation and shall be barred from entering heaven. The unbelieving, like the Israelites who doubted God in the wilderness, the rebellious, like Dathan, Korah and Abiram together with their company shall be barred from heaven. The reprobate and religious persons without living faith in Christ shall be barred from entering heaven. God will ensure that only persons who believe in Jesus for their salvation will enter into paradise. When He will count up those who will enter heaven, may we all be counted among them. Thus, the chapter closes with a sobering truth, a fulfilment of what God had spoken. The great exclusion is coming but the good news is that everyone of us can be part of the great inclusion.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:

1. How should believers approach the study of the Bible?
2. What are the differences between the first and second command to number the people and what can we learn from how Moses handled both?
3. Why should a leader handle the work of the Lord with caution?
4. What do we learn from the mention of daughters and women in the census?
5. How did Korah’s sons escape the judgment that came on their father and his company in the rebellion?
6. Why do some believers go outside the household of faith to marry?
7. How should believers respond to God’s command in the Scriptures even when the reason for compliance is not clear to them?