|
|
Numbers Chapter 26
- Numbers 26:1 And it came to pass
after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto
Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
- 2 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.
Now we see the time has come for Israel after many delays to begin
to take their journey into the land of Canaan. It would seem that
those under the age of twenty are not numbered and do not go to war.
That should be an example to us. We use to draft those who turned
eighteen. The Lord must have thought them too young and immature to
go to war so the age of twenty seems to be best. Perhaps younger
ones are easily discouraged, maybe their muscles haven't fully
developed or perhaps they were just immature at that point. The teen
years are years of hormone changes in both male and female. Many of
us enter a wild rebellious stage in our teenage years. Who knows the
reasoning behind this but it seems to make sense to God.
Notice also that they were to number the people yet King David at
one time suffered severe judgment for numbering the people. In this
case it was instructed by the Lord but in David's case it was
David's own idea perhaps a case of pride rather than preparing for
war.
This was done once before in Numbers chapter 1 but because of the
unbelief stirred up by the 10 spies who failed to believe in the
power of God, Israel's journey into the Promised land was delayed by
forty years so we see them being numbered again after forty years
had passed.
- Numbers 26:3 And Moses and
Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by
Jordan near Jericho, saying,
- 4 Take the sum of the
people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded
Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the
land of Egypt.
- 5 Reuben, the eldest son
of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the
family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:
- 6 Of Hezron, the family
of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
- 7 These are the families
of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were
forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
- 8 And the sons of Pallu;
Eliab.
- 9 And the sons of Eliab;
Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram,
which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses
and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove
against the LORD:
- 10 And the earth opened
her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that
company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty
men: and they became a sign.
- 11 Notwithstanding the
children of Korah died not.
The rebellion of Korah recorded a few chapters previously cost many
lives but the children were spared. God brought judgment against
those that rebelled with Dathan and not those who were innocent.
This was only one of the many events of murmuring and complaining
against the Lord. The Lord wanted good things for Israel. He
provided water, food and the soles of their shoes even lasted
throughout the whole journey. It only took only one person's
murmuring to cause so many people to rebel and be killed in
judgment.
We today need to watch how we speak for our words can cause healing,
love and encouragement or our words can cause hatred, disunity and
trouble.
In saying that though, I'm not advocating keeping silent when false
doctrine is preached neither am I advocating a false unity that goes
along with everything that comes down the pike. We are given the
written word to compare, study and pray in order that we increase
our faith, walk in love but with discernment.
God is good to provide us with the written word so that we are not
deceived. Yet as I heard Carter Conlon say once, "Have discernment
but with the heart of God."
Let us give each other the benefit of the doubt and not allow Satan
to use us to accuse the brethren, make assumptions and judge
unrighteous judgments. However, when a false doctrine is preached, a
scripture is taken out of context to support someone's pet doctrine,
we must be on our guard for Jesus did warn us to take heed that we
not be deceived.
All things must be in balance and done in love. True love from God
is based on truth also. God does not want us to be unified in evil
and lies. We must have unity in spirit and in truth not the Babylon
type of unity that God broke up at the tower of Babel.
- Numbers 26:12 The sons of Simeon
after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites:
of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of
the Jachinites:
- 13 Of Zerah, the family
of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
- 14 These are the families
of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.
- 15 The children of Gad
after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites:
of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of
the Shunites:
- 16 Of Ozni, the family of
the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:
- 17 Of Arod, the family of
the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
- 18 These are the families
of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of
them, forty thousand and five hundred.
- 19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
For some reason the first son of Judah was evil in the sight of the
Lord, the second son married the wife of the first son but allowed
his seed to be spilled on the ground. He was not wanting to preserve
his brother's seed and he was slain also. This was recorded in the
book of Genesis.
- Numbers 26:20 And the sons of
Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the
Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah,
the family of the Zarhites.
- 21 And the sons of Pharez
were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the
family of the Hamulites.
- 22 These are the families
of Judah according to those that were numbered of them,
threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.
- 23 Of the sons of
Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the
Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
- 24 Of Jashub, the family
of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
- 25 These are the families
of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them,
threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
- 26 Of the sons of Zebulun
after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of
Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the
Jahleelites.
- 27 These are the families
of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of
them, threescore thousand and five hundred.
- 28 The sons of Joseph
after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.
- 29 Of the sons of
Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir
begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.
- 30 These are the sons of
Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the
family of the Helekites:
- 31 And of Asriel, the
family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the
Shechemites:
- 32 And of Shemida, the
family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the
Hepherites.
- 33 And Zelophehad the son
of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the
daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah,
and Tirzah.
- 34 These are the families
of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two
thousand and seven hundred.
- 35 These are the sons of
Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the
Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan,
the family of the Tahanites.
- 36 And these are the sons
of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
- 37 These are the families
of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of
them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the
sons of Joseph after their families.
- 38 The sons of Benjamin
after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites: of
Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites: of Ahiram, the family of
the Ahiramites:
- 39 Of Shupham, the family
of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
- 40 And the sons of Bela
were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of
Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
- 41 These are the sons of
Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of
them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.
- 42 These are the sons of
Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the
Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.
- 43 All the families of
the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them,
were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.
- 44 Of the children of
Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites:
of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of
the Beriites.
- 45 Of the sons of Beriah:
of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family
of the Malchielites.
- 46 And the name of the
daughter of Asher was Sarah.
- 47 These are the families
of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of
them; who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
- 48 Of the sons of
Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the
Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
- 49 Of Jezer, the family
of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
- 50 These are the families
of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were
numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.
- 51 These were the
numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a
thousand seven hundred and thirty.
- 52 And the LORD spake
unto Moses, saying,
- 53 Unto these the land
shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of
names.
Apparently the numbering of Israel at this time was also for
dividing the inheritance as well as numbering them for war.
They were to receive inheritance according to the how many they were
and the need. No respect of persons is seen here but everyone given
according to how large or small they were and how much land was
needed to support them.
- Numbers 26:55 Notwithstanding
the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the
tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
- 56 According to the lot
shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
- 57 And these are they
that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of
the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
- 58 These are the families
of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the
Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the
Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
- 59 And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother
bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses,
and Miriam their sister.
- 60 And unto Aaron was
born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- 61 And Nadab and Abihu
died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.
Notice how the ones that sinned are named showing us that they were
originally supposed to receive an inheritance or in the case of the
Levites, be part of the Lord's chosen to serve the tabernacle. I
believe they are also mentioned as an example that we are not to
follow and do the same things.
Nadab and Abihu died because they offered a strange fire of their
own accord without doing it God's way. This shows us that there is
truly only one way of salvation and that is what God provides, not
what we offer up as religious works. God provided one way of
salvation and that was through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ
who died for the sins of all who would simply repent of sin and
believe in Him. Many leave out the repenting or turning from sin
part. However, since Jesus died in our place and for the sins that
we commit, it stands to reason that part of salvation is not only
believing in what He did on our behalf but forsaking our sins and
asking forgiveness of sins at the same time.
I'm sure Jesus didn't take away our sins for us to remain in them
and still claim His salvation.
If sin is separating us from God and the blood of Jesus cleanses us
from sin, then it we are not to remain in sin
but walk in the spirit not fulfilling the lust of the flesh.
The sin of unbelief leads to all other sins for if we do not believe
in Him, our sins remain and we are then lost. Jesus said to those
who were questioning Him about who He was:
The angel of the Lord that spoke to Joseph also proclaimed the
mission of the Messiah was to save from sin.
- Matthew 1:20 But while he
thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared
unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not
to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Ghost.
- 21 And she shall bring
forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall
save his people from their sins.
- 22 Now all this was
done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by
the prophet, saying,
- 23 Behold, a virgin
shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall
call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with
us.
What a beautiful thought is in verse 23 of Matthew 1. "God with us."
-
Numbers
26:62 And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three
thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were
not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no
inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
A reminder here that the inheritance of the Levites were the service
of the Lord and not land inheritance. They were not to go to war but
serve the Lord and lead the people in worship.
- Numbers 26:63 These are they
that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered
the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near
Jericho.
- 64 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.
- 65 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.
Those that were above twenty that started out on their journey did
not enter into the promised land because of the unbelief they
encountered at the evil report of the ten spies who didn't believe
in the power of God to bring them into the land of Canaan. Only two
believed God and were able to enter the promised land. They dwelled
forty more years in the wilderness until they died off and now a new
set of people were going to enter Canaan who were under twenty at
the time of the 12 spies who went in to spy out the land. Caleb and
Joshua believed God at that time and did not fear the giants like
the other ten spies feared.
We notice from that lesson that it is usually only a few in number
that hold fast to faith in God and in the truth. The majority
usually abides in unbelief. That is sad but it is so true. So when
we make the mistake of looking for big numbers and assuming large
crowds are a sign of God's blessing and favor, we could be badly
mistaken. Jesus said that straight and narrow is the path that leads
to life and few there be that find it. It is safer never to follow a
crowd.
- Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at
the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat:
- 14 Because strait is
the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it.
The straight and narrow is the way that is through complete trust
and faith in Jesus Christ. To believe in Jesus is to believe His
words.
- John 14:23 Jesus answered
and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and
my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our
abode with him.
- 24 He that loveth me
not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not
mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Saying we love God and ignore His word would reveal that what we had
in our hearts toward God was not really love except in name only.
Surface love.
- Luke 6:46 And why call ye
me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
- 47 Whosoever cometh to
me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to
whom he is like:
- 48 He is like a man
which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation
on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently
upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon
a rock.
- 49 But he that heareth,
and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an
house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat
vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house
was great.
Beloved, we do not have to be deceived or abide in unbelief.
God has provided the answer if we would just read and understand. DC
|
|