1 00:00:14,059 --> 00:00:17,359 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,399 --> 00:00:24,100 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,660 --> 00:00:26,980 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:36,340 --> 00:00:40,420 Well, I have to say when I first read this chapter last week, I'm there... 5 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:44,140 We're gonna teach on here. We've got a bunch of names. 6 00:00:45,579 --> 00:00:48,000 Pretty much almost all the chapter was names. 7 00:00:51,299 --> 00:00:52,619 spend some time 8 00:00:53,439 --> 00:01:00,259 Praying and thinking on it and just kind of working through some stuff. So here we go, right? 9 00:01:04,060 --> 00:01:04,739 So 10 00:01:06,919 --> 00:01:09,340 In Numbers 26, we're 11 00:01:11,379 --> 00:01:12,719 We're right up here 12 00:01:13,620 --> 00:01:19,879 On the plains of Moab. It's just it's just east of the Jordan River 13 00:01:19,879 --> 00:01:25,439 And you can see here kind of this is the the plate that the Israelites took. This is where they kind of 14 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:31,519 Circled around the middle of nowhere for for 40 years and then made their way up here 15 00:01:31,519 --> 00:01:35,399 But this is kind of where they're they're hanging out and they're and they're 16 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:37,579 making their way 17 00:01:38,340 --> 00:01:40,780 Into into the promised land 18 00:01:40,780 --> 00:01:49,219 So by by this time all of all of the previous generation that had had come out of exodus the rebellious generation 19 00:01:50,019 --> 00:01:52,780 Has died off and this new generation 20 00:01:52,780 --> 00:01:57,679 They're on the brink of entering into the promise and that's got to be 21 00:01:58,519 --> 00:02:04,659 exciting and terrifying for them all at the same time Joshua is going to be 22 00:02:05,719 --> 00:02:12,099 The the leader as they go in because because Moses was not not crossing over 23 00:02:12,099 --> 00:02:15,680 And this is the second said this whole book is about the census 24 00:02:17,340 --> 00:02:24,099 It's the second census if you remember if you work for those of you that were here the first census was in the beginning 25 00:02:24,099 --> 00:02:27,040 of numbers at Mount Sinai and 26 00:02:27,939 --> 00:02:33,599 That had been about and I know it's only one chapter, but believe it or not. It was about 27 00:02:34,299 --> 00:02:35,419 38 years 28 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:41,780 Previous before before the last and and that first census was about one year 29 00:02:42,379 --> 00:02:49,039 That they had come out of out of Egypt just to give a little perspective and a little little context to 30 00:02:49,039 --> 00:02:51,099 to where they were so 31 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,539 How how and why 32 00:02:56,159 --> 00:02:58,199 Were they were they doing? 33 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:03,439 The census a lot of reasons and we're going to get into that 34 00:03:05,879 --> 00:03:10,819 Basically how they went to you know, you got to ask yourself, okay, there's you know 35 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:20,340 Two million some odd people here. How do you how do you go about counting, you know, two million some odd odd people? 36 00:03:20,580 --> 00:03:28,219 so they were they gathered the tribes the twelve tribes and the various clan leaders and 37 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:34,139 Over a period of days probably more like weeks or even even more 38 00:03:34,659 --> 00:03:35,219 families 39 00:03:35,939 --> 00:03:39,819 came came forward, you know tribe by tribe and 40 00:03:40,719 --> 00:03:43,020 Each man that was 41 00:03:43,020 --> 00:03:45,800 20-plus years old 42 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:53,819 You know how to declare his name and his genealogy. So it would be you know, I am Jamie 43 00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:57,759 son of Earl of the clan of 44 00:03:57,759 --> 00:03:59,580 Alabach and 45 00:03:59,580 --> 00:04:06,900 And that's how they would they would present themselves and they each paid a half a shekel of silver 46 00:04:07,699 --> 00:04:12,199 Okay, they would call it as a as a ransom and this went this went into 47 00:04:12,199 --> 00:04:17,720 Into the Treasury and the officials would would count this and record them 48 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,740 So at the end there was about 49 00:04:21,420 --> 00:04:24,079 601 well, it was exactly according to the word 50 00:04:24,079 --> 00:04:29,019 601,730,000 fighting men 51 00:04:29,019 --> 00:04:35,300 So if you do some rough math, so they didn't count women and children 52 00:04:36,260 --> 00:04:37,540 the elderly 53 00:04:37,540 --> 00:04:45,560 So if you do some do some rough math, there was about two to two and a half million 54 00:04:46,220 --> 00:04:50,879 Israelites at this point all together including women. So 55 00:04:52,580 --> 00:04:58,360 One of the reasons one of the ways that they they approached this was you know 56 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:04,600 You had you know this continuity from Abraham Isaac Jacob and then the 12 57 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:11,120 tribes that were there and then from there they had the clans and the households and 58 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:19,640 Some of the tribes shrank and some of the tribes grew due to 59 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,240 Obedience and disobedience. So for example 60 00:05:25,939 --> 00:05:28,899 Simeon shrank dramatically 61 00:05:29,620 --> 00:05:35,199 Due to the judgment related to the bail peeler incident from the previous chapter 62 00:05:35,780 --> 00:05:43,019 So if you remember there was about 24,000 Israelites that were killed the tribe of 63 00:05:44,300 --> 00:05:45,379 Mansaiah and 64 00:05:45,379 --> 00:05:51,199 As well as others they grew in God's favor because they were they were obedient 65 00:05:51,199 --> 00:05:55,459 So you had this kind of ebbing and flowing 66 00:05:55,459 --> 00:06:01,800 You know when you think about we've talked about this before that, you know, God is kind of 67 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:06,539 instituting this this order this order of society and 68 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:15,379 You know every you know, every functioning society has has these things. So, you know, you could say yeah, this is a 69 00:06:15,379 --> 00:06:16,319 census but 70 00:06:16,899 --> 00:06:22,459 Really in part it was, you know, partly tax collection. It was partly 71 00:06:23,019 --> 00:06:24,300 kind of a public 72 00:06:25,060 --> 00:06:30,740 registration, you know to identify, you know, who was who and where they were 73 00:06:33,500 --> 00:06:37,060 The whole chapter kind of almost reads a bit like a 74 00:06:37,060 --> 00:06:38,480 legal document 75 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:44,339 So to speak and and that's because that's kind of kind of what it was. It was an official 76 00:06:44,900 --> 00:06:46,199 roll call for 77 00:06:46,199 --> 00:06:48,819 for the Israelites on the eve of 78 00:06:49,019 --> 00:06:56,480 On the brink of when they're going into the Promised Land to wage wage war 79 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,519 So that that kind of sets 80 00:06:59,259 --> 00:07:01,379 sets the context for things 81 00:07:01,899 --> 00:07:03,439 and this will be 82 00:07:03,439 --> 00:07:09,660 This will be the first time at least that I'm doing that. I'm not really going to go through verse by verse 83 00:07:10,299 --> 00:07:12,259 We're gonna kind of look at it more 84 00:07:13,579 --> 00:07:20,680 In an outline form and kind of in you know in a bigger idea of what what it was 85 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:22,800 so verses one through five 86 00:07:23,620 --> 00:07:29,220 Basically covers off on God's commands to Moses and laser who was Aaron's 87 00:07:29,220 --> 00:07:37,540 Son and now the high priest to take a census of all the males 20 years older who were able to go to war 88 00:07:38,339 --> 00:07:45,139 Versus 52 through 56 and that was the majority the majority of the chapter by the way 52 through 56 89 00:07:45,660 --> 00:07:49,899 gives instructions for how the Promised Land will be 90 00:07:50,899 --> 00:07:56,980 apportioned so they're already they haven't even gone in and you know and and and and 91 00:07:56,980 --> 00:07:57,819 basically 92 00:07:58,539 --> 00:08:05,839 Beat up the cane I checked because they're already like thinking how we're gonna divide how we're gonna divide this land 93 00:08:05,839 --> 00:08:13,759 So big part of this is how it's gonna be apportioned, you know by lots, you know, you know God's sovereign choice 94 00:08:14,939 --> 00:08:22,939 How it's gonna go by tribe some tribes were larger some tribes were smaller we're gonna talk a bit about that 57 through 62 95 00:08:22,939 --> 00:08:25,100 There was a separate census 96 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:33,120 Taking for the tribe of Levi the Levites who were the priests and they did not receive 97 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:39,879 territory, which we'll talk about again, and then the second the closing note emphasizes 98 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:47,340 That none of the people counted in the first sense except for Caleb and Joshua are still alive 99 00:08:47,340 --> 00:08:50,080 God's word of judgment was fulfilled 100 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:57,460 Exactly. So let's talk a little bit about why why was the census, you know needed so 101 00:08:58,379 --> 00:08:59,100 basically 102 00:08:59,100 --> 00:08:59,840 I 103 00:09:01,300 --> 00:09:02,700 This is the first 104 00:09:02,700 --> 00:09:07,720 you know first generation out of the out of the wilderness and 105 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:13,779 This is the second generation. It came in the first generation basically, you know died off 106 00:09:14,379 --> 00:09:17,259 this chapter is immediately after 107 00:09:17,980 --> 00:09:19,899 the plague that took 108 00:09:19,899 --> 00:09:22,600 24,000 lives 109 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:30,039 So this kind of marks the end, you know of a generation and a significant move forward 110 00:09:30,039 --> 00:09:37,220 So really there's there's a head count needed because you know when you have that many people you've just got to know 111 00:09:37,220 --> 00:09:42,279 Know what's going on and it basically, you know, they knew they were heading into war 112 00:09:42,279 --> 00:09:49,639 So one of it was for military readiness. So they were about to wage a holy war on Canaan 113 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:56,840 knowing they needed to know exactly what their military might was and their capability and 114 00:09:57,500 --> 00:10:01,480 You know, this is this is this is kind of an unusual way for 115 00:10:02,039 --> 00:10:09,240 For us to look at it as a society, but God was really kind of their commander in chief, right? 116 00:10:09,980 --> 00:10:18,259 You know and he is ordering the census and you know, there there's all kinds of scripture, you know Exodus 15 3 117 00:10:19,100 --> 00:10:22,159 Says that the Lord is a man of war 118 00:10:22,159 --> 00:10:30,039 The Lord is his name Isaiah 42 13 says the Lord goes forth like a warrior 119 00:10:30,740 --> 00:10:34,879 He stirs up his zeal like a man of war 120 00:10:35,419 --> 00:10:37,179 Psalm 24 8 121 00:10:37,779 --> 00:10:42,960 The Lord strong and mighty the Lord mighty in battle and Cefaniah 122 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:49,360 3 17 the Lord your God a warrior who gives victory 123 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:52,960 so that's 124 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:58,679 How God portrayed himself and that's how many of the Israelites saw God now 125 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:01,799 You know, we we see God a bit different 126 00:11:01,799 --> 00:11:07,399 We know in in a Thessian 6 says that our our battle is not 127 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,539 against flesh and blood anymore 128 00:11:10,539 --> 00:11:14,620 But our battle is a spiritual is a spiritual battle 129 00:11:14,620 --> 00:11:21,379 So sometimes things like that when you say, okay, God was basically their commander in chief and taking them into war 130 00:11:21,379 --> 00:11:27,940 It's a very foreign foreign concept to us because we we've you got a bit different than now 131 00:11:27,940 --> 00:11:29,480 but God is 132 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:36,399 Leading getting ready to lead his people into battle and he wants them to be organized under his command 133 00:11:36,399 --> 00:11:42,840 So the military readiness and responsiveness was a big part of this 134 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:44,720 Census they needed to know 135 00:11:45,639 --> 00:11:51,000 What what what what military assets they had had in front of them 136 00:11:52,100 --> 00:11:55,440 Another big part was the land distribution 137 00:11:56,639 --> 00:11:58,320 think about 138 00:12:00,439 --> 00:12:02,740 The William Penn land grant 139 00:12:03,340 --> 00:12:06,559 Right, okay. This is kind of you know 140 00:12:06,559 --> 00:12:09,360 on a much grander scale 141 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,879 now they're calling it the the inheritance, but 142 00:12:13,879 --> 00:12:19,440 they're basically taking a census of people to try to 143 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:26,299 Understand how they're gonna divide this land because there had to be a level of organization to it again 144 00:12:26,299 --> 00:12:32,600 You've got two million plus people. You're not just gonna say hey everybody kind of you know 145 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:35,879 It's not gonna be like the Wild West was here where it's like, okay 146 00:12:35,879 --> 00:12:38,820 Just go and you know, take what you want as far as land 147 00:12:38,820 --> 00:12:46,559 There was a level of organization that had to be in place and this was a bit very much looked at as an inheritance 148 00:12:46,559 --> 00:12:52,539 But as you'll see not all things were were created equal in some ways 149 00:12:52,539 --> 00:12:58,659 So that the land was promised to Abraham back back in Genesis 150 00:12:58,659 --> 00:13:01,100 So this was this was a promise 151 00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:09,639 That was made to Abraham and it was about to be fulfilled and there the census was providing 152 00:13:09,639 --> 00:13:26,320 Some data for this as to how it was going to be divided. So 153 00:13:31,220 --> 00:13:33,100 There we go, I got it back 154 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:38,080 So the land is to be bought divided by tribe 155 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:42,879 So the larger tribes received a larger portion the smaller tribes received 156 00:13:43,740 --> 00:13:52,519 smaller now the boundaries of the land like like like where it was and who was going up against who was was chosen by 157 00:13:52,519 --> 00:13:57,200 a lot, okay, so so basically in essence, you know 158 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:03,100 God is deciding if you're calling it by you know by chance and this would present prevent 159 00:14:03,780 --> 00:14:08,000 favoritism so I don't know if I don't know if many of you know this but you know in my 160 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:14,800 you know my my my I come I come from the Anabaptists or Mennonites and 161 00:14:16,460 --> 00:14:20,920 Even up till I think up until the 60s 162 00:14:21,759 --> 00:14:24,659 They used to choose their pastor by lot 163 00:14:25,620 --> 00:14:26,179 So 164 00:14:26,860 --> 00:14:34,539 If you were the lucky one you you drew the straw and you you won. In fact, I have a 165 00:14:34,539 --> 00:14:36,019 a 166 00:14:37,300 --> 00:14:40,100 Great great uncle 167 00:14:41,139 --> 00:14:45,659 Christian alabak who was part of the Rock Hill 168 00:14:46,259 --> 00:14:48,620 Mennonite and 169 00:14:48,620 --> 00:14:51,440 I don't know all the details surrounding it 170 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:53,580 but he kind of 171 00:14:53,580 --> 00:15:00,220 Left there and went to tell Menson because he didn't want to be part of that and then it tell Menson 172 00:15:00,220 --> 00:15:02,139 He was selected as the pastor anyway 173 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:07,460 And he was very gifted gifted pastor from from what I understand 174 00:15:07,460 --> 00:15:14,620 So they used to choose a pastor by lot and how they looked at it was they were putting it into the hands of God 175 00:15:14,620 --> 00:15:21,120 so that's what they're saying here is is that the boundaries and who's next to who and who's bordering who was all 176 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:25,919 Decided by a lot which would be God's, you know God's providence. So 177 00:15:26,759 --> 00:15:31,759 When you think about land, you know, I think we look at we look at land a little bit different 178 00:15:31,759 --> 00:15:35,500 Okay, we have a land and we have our house and just kind of is what it is 179 00:15:35,500 --> 00:15:40,519 but you know, they looked at it as kind of an identity thing a 180 00:15:40,519 --> 00:15:46,559 Livelihood they lived off the land they used the land to to build a 181 00:15:46,559 --> 00:15:53,700 Burial place for their their ancestors a future for their family. So there was a lot 182 00:15:53,700 --> 00:16:03,240 built into land and the idea of land if you didn't have land you had no future no name no 183 00:16:03,759 --> 00:16:09,659 Inheritance for your children and that's a biblical tin. It's written in Ruth. It's written in Jeremiah 184 00:16:09,659 --> 00:16:13,639 So land was very very very important to them 185 00:16:14,639 --> 00:16:17,059 Now, you know, we know 186 00:16:17,639 --> 00:16:25,039 From from from writings in the New Testament, you know by by Paul mostly that we as believers are 187 00:16:25,559 --> 00:16:26,240 our 188 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:29,340 Abraham's seed and co-heirs 189 00:16:30,439 --> 00:16:31,700 to the promise 190 00:16:33,299 --> 00:16:34,799 Galatians 3 191 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,360 29 says if you belong to Christ 192 00:16:38,879 --> 00:16:42,179 Then you are Abraham's seed and heirs 193 00:16:42,179 --> 00:16:45,059 according to the promise 194 00:16:45,980 --> 00:16:49,899 So we are heirs according to that inheritance 195 00:16:50,740 --> 00:16:52,240 Hebrews 11 9 196 00:16:53,220 --> 00:16:54,519 9 to 10 197 00:16:55,420 --> 00:17:02,600 Recently went through this on Sunday by faith. He made his home in the promised land 198 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:10,680 Talking about Abraham like a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents as did Isaac and Jacob 199 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:16,420 Who were heirs with him of the same promise for he was? 200 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:22,299 Looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect 201 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,740 Art and builder is God 202 00:17:26,519 --> 00:17:29,619 So they looked forward to this promise 203 00:17:29,619 --> 00:17:37,720 They never they never saw it and they looked forward to it and we the Israelites were getting ready to step into this promise 204 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:39,839 But we are living 205 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:45,180 In that promise now, we are living in that inheritance 206 00:17:47,420 --> 00:17:52,799 Let your head wrap around that for a second we're living in that inheritance right now 207 00:17:56,339 --> 00:17:57,079 And 208 00:17:57,079 --> 00:17:58,700 And what this represented 209 00:17:59,519 --> 00:18:07,980 To them and I know what it represents to me is this kind of renewal this new life 210 00:18:08,839 --> 00:18:11,519 After failure or after death 211 00:18:12,180 --> 00:18:15,220 This renewal so the whole nation 212 00:18:16,019 --> 00:18:17,500 Kind of gets a reboot 213 00:18:18,259 --> 00:18:22,339 You know all of this all of this stuff that went wrong 214 00:18:22,339 --> 00:18:28,059 along the way all of the failures all of the rebellion all of the stuff that just 215 00:18:29,639 --> 00:18:35,000 You know we've read and read and read about it it's all in the past now 216 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:41,039 And this is this is kind of a reboot and what it says and we know this to be true 217 00:18:41,039 --> 00:18:46,460 As followers of Jesus that past failures do not cancel out 218 00:18:47,039 --> 00:18:52,900 future promises that God makes to us and I'm thankful for that so we 219 00:18:52,900 --> 00:19:00,119 They embraced it we can embrace it this fresh this fresh start a new season a 220 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:06,099 Redeemed life a redeemed identity and living in this in this promise 221 00:19:07,180 --> 00:19:13,779 So land distribution was a big piece of why they were taking this census 222 00:19:16,539 --> 00:19:17,960 Another reason 223 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:24,440 You know and again this this seems a bit odd odd to us because you know 224 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,440 I think you know we we try to you know 225 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:32,039 You know we want to be a people of humility, but this was about 226 00:19:32,799 --> 00:19:37,000 purity and identity of the covenant people of the 227 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:42,519 Chosen people of God so God was building this this holy 228 00:19:42,519 --> 00:19:46,539 Nation and precise records to preserve 229 00:19:46,539 --> 00:19:48,259 this line 230 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:50,980 for the coming Messiah 231 00:19:52,519 --> 00:19:54,220 Was imperative 232 00:19:55,019 --> 00:20:00,980 You know in other words protecting this messianic bloodline that was going to come and and 233 00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:08,180 And this is how they looked at themselves. They looked at themselves as you know we are a special people 234 00:20:08,180 --> 00:20:14,539 We are different than the Egyptians. We are different than you know the canines 235 00:20:14,539 --> 00:20:20,920 We are different than all of these other people because we are chosen by God 236 00:20:20,920 --> 00:20:27,299 And that's a special thing so they were the promised seed the son of David 237 00:20:28,279 --> 00:20:33,160 So these were some of the some of the some of the some of the tones 238 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:41,180 You'll hear through scripture the promised seed the son of David the Messiah all paving the way for for Jesus 239 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:49,680 Who was to come through this traceable line all the way back to this to the census so? 240 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,099 mixed marriages and lost 241 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:58,259 Genealogies and all this stuff would would break you know break that that that chain 242 00:20:58,259 --> 00:21:04,839 And we know that both Matthew and and Luke and the Gospels they were they would trace the the 243 00:21:04,839 --> 00:21:08,799 Genealogy back from Jesus all the way back 244 00:21:09,519 --> 00:21:13,680 So the census was God's way of keeping the record straight 245 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:16,359 so that in the centuries later 246 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:23,720 In in Gospels and in the word and even through mostly you know as they would talk about it 247 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:31,359 You know preserving this that Jesus the son of David the son of Abraham as it said in 248 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:39,759 Matthew in Matthew 1 so keeping that record and and you know I know I know I've talked about this before is 249 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:42,339 You know when I 250 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:44,720 You know when I would come to 251 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:47,099 Chapters like this. I would just like 252 00:21:47,099 --> 00:21:53,359 Blow through I wouldn't even read I wouldn't even read that stuff same same thing in like Matthew 253 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:58,360 You know I'm not even reading through the genealogy because it's just like 254 00:22:00,099 --> 00:22:05,480 It's too much, but it is super super important 255 00:22:06,160 --> 00:22:07,200 to the Jews 256 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:14,660 It was very very very important who you were and where you came from in the genealogy 257 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:17,220 And the lineage behind it 258 00:22:17,220 --> 00:22:20,559 So God is preserving that 259 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:21,819 so 260 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:30,380 This idea of holiness of this of this covenant community Israel was called to be a holy nation 261 00:22:31,319 --> 00:22:33,779 You know so all of these things were 262 00:22:33,779 --> 00:22:42,559 You know they had to keep that that purity so precise tribal and clan registration made it very clear 263 00:22:42,559 --> 00:22:48,099 You know who belonged where who could marry whom? 264 00:22:49,039 --> 00:22:52,799 Preventing you know what they would call you know spiritual 265 00:22:53,440 --> 00:23:00,460 Contamination that would destroy you know and eventually would destroy some of the kingdoms as we'll find out as we get through 266 00:23:00,460 --> 00:23:02,819 like two Kings and all of that so 267 00:23:03,660 --> 00:23:09,059 This really was you know some foreshadowing here in the book of revelations that 268 00:23:09,059 --> 00:23:13,859 Repeatedly speaks about those names that are written 269 00:23:13,859 --> 00:23:21,200 In the book of life from the foundation of of the world so not the same 270 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:22,519 kind of 271 00:23:23,099 --> 00:23:29,619 Census and genealogy, but kind of a foreshadowing of what was to come you know Paul calls the church 272 00:23:31,099 --> 00:23:33,240 The Israel of God 273 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:40,380 Galatians 6 and says believers are enrolled in a heavenly registry in Hebrews 12 274 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:49,180 23 and Philippians 4 3 and Luke 10 20 so God has always kept this this precise list of 275 00:23:49,180 --> 00:23:50,599 Who are his? 276 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:57,039 You know he says he says that our names are written in his hand in the palm in the palm of his hands 277 00:23:57,039 --> 00:24:04,680 So wrote the numbers 26 that we're going through is really an early picture of what an eternal reality is 278 00:24:07,660 --> 00:24:10,159 So this was proof as 279 00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:18,460 They documented this this was proof of God's judgment and his grace 280 00:24:19,519 --> 00:24:21,099 so when you 281 00:24:21,099 --> 00:24:22,099 compare 282 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:28,880 The two senses that were you know roughly 40 years apart 283 00:24:32,579 --> 00:24:34,119 They they're almost 284 00:24:34,799 --> 00:24:36,160 They're almost the same 285 00:24:37,019 --> 00:24:40,960 And when I first looked at them, I'm there how's that possible if these guys are 286 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:47,200 Wandering in the in the desert for 40 years, you know million some odd people. They're gonna be multiplying 287 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:48,880 And 288 00:24:51,179 --> 00:24:54,220 It has to do with you know, the various 289 00:24:55,579 --> 00:24:56,859 forms of 290 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:03,000 Rebellion and how they were basically basically, you know killed killed off. So 291 00:25:04,019 --> 00:25:11,619 God keeps his word when it comes to judgment, but he also keeps his word when it comes to grace and mercy so both 292 00:25:12,460 --> 00:25:19,720 Judgment on unbelief and mercy on preserving the people for for himself 293 00:25:21,220 --> 00:25:24,960 Is noted here and documented here 294 00:25:30,980 --> 00:25:33,859 So the leave lights were counted separately 295 00:25:34,380 --> 00:25:39,759 There was a separate census and they did not receive 296 00:25:39,759 --> 00:25:41,700 land inheritance 297 00:25:43,339 --> 00:25:45,359 Why you may ask 298 00:25:46,599 --> 00:25:50,140 Because the Lord is their inheritance 299 00:25:52,039 --> 00:25:53,420 Deuteronomy 10 9 300 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:54,480 says 301 00:25:55,240 --> 00:26:01,799 Says that that is why the Levites had no share or inheritance among their fellow 302 00:26:01,799 --> 00:26:08,900 Israelites the Lord is their inheritance as the Lord your God told them so 303 00:26:09,759 --> 00:26:16,559 They weren't to own land and things like the others did Joshua 13 33 304 00:26:16,559 --> 00:26:22,299 But to the tribe of Lehi Levi Moses has given no inheritance 305 00:26:22,299 --> 00:26:29,039 The Lord the God of Israel is their inheritance as he promised them 306 00:26:29,039 --> 00:26:34,440 so purity and identity of the covenant people was 307 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:40,319 Basically in the hands of the priests and we went through this in a lot of detail 308 00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:44,859 You know before before the book of the numbers 309 00:26:44,859 --> 00:26:49,660 So the Levites, you know were the priests and they were set apart 310 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:56,019 For service and worship and they were set apart to lead the nation 311 00:26:56,019 --> 00:27:01,320 To God. So this really shows how God puts a priority 312 00:27:02,259 --> 00:27:08,660 On holiness and worship and service because their reward 313 00:27:09,819 --> 00:27:16,900 Is much like our reward right? What does God say, you know, we are we are storing up, you know our 314 00:27:16,900 --> 00:27:18,940 reward in heaven 315 00:27:20,260 --> 00:27:22,720 Spiritual rewards so 316 00:27:23,839 --> 00:27:30,980 Not all blessings are land and wealth right we know that very well spiritual inheritance 317 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:37,680 Is its own reward? So, you know gang God is building this holy nation 318 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:45,539 So, you know, they were you know, they were part of this but they were not part of of the covenant. So 319 00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:47,740 Let's kind of recap 320 00:27:48,340 --> 00:27:51,340 You know a couple a couple things here 321 00:27:56,380 --> 00:28:01,099 These were a couple things I always kind of like to take a step back and say okay 322 00:28:01,099 --> 00:28:04,420 What were the things that God really spoke to me here about? 323 00:28:06,299 --> 00:28:09,119 You know God God works with a remnant, right? 324 00:28:09,619 --> 00:28:14,380 So so these this was this was was there was a lot of people that 325 00:28:14,380 --> 00:28:19,100 That were that were lost along the way and the original generation 326 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:23,380 Did not make it into the Promised Land 327 00:28:23,940 --> 00:28:28,660 Including Moses so, you know God will work with an remnant 328 00:28:28,660 --> 00:28:34,539 There's an entire generation that was wiped out yet. God did not abandon his promise 329 00:28:35,580 --> 00:28:40,240 He held true to his promise no matter how corrupt 330 00:28:41,180 --> 00:28:44,359 Or how wayward the generation went 331 00:28:44,980 --> 00:28:52,420 He kept circling back with mercy and grace and there was judgment along with that 332 00:28:52,420 --> 00:28:55,200 He would always preserve 333 00:28:56,559 --> 00:28:57,299 The 334 00:28:57,299 --> 00:29:00,059 Reminent of the faithful that were in there 335 00:29:00,799 --> 00:29:04,480 so this new census is this picture of 336 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:10,460 Resurrection that comes from you know, we talked a little bit about this 337 00:29:10,460 --> 00:29:18,059 You know at our in our in our life group on on Monday, you know from from Chris's sermon on 338 00:29:18,059 --> 00:29:23,720 On Sunday of how how God can bring, you know life from death 339 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:31,180 So this new generation that is going in to the Promised Land is a remnant of of life 340 00:29:31,180 --> 00:29:36,619 That came from death a new people ready to inherit 341 00:29:38,319 --> 00:29:42,279 What the old forfeited through their through their unbelief 342 00:29:43,220 --> 00:29:50,900 Another thing that that really stuck out to me and I kind of put this in the title is that every name matters 343 00:29:50,900 --> 00:29:52,319 to God 344 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:58,880 Yeah, when I read through this my eyes kind of glaze over 345 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:06,259 But God took the time to write every name down 346 00:30:07,759 --> 00:30:12,240 Thousands of incredibly hard to pronounce names 347 00:30:14,119 --> 00:30:19,759 Show that God knows every individual and that he cares 348 00:30:19,759 --> 00:30:28,140 Even in a military census. No one is just a number to God 349 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:34,660 God is faithful to his promises 350 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:46,759 This is six hundred and eighty-five years after he promised this to Abraham 351 00:30:48,519 --> 00:30:51,440 Six hundred and eighty-five years 352 00:30:53,500 --> 00:31:00,099 They waited and God waited and God was faithful to this in how we say that 353 00:31:00,099 --> 00:31:03,960 You know God's timing is not our timing. Well, I 354 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:05,519 Don't know 355 00:31:06,279 --> 00:31:09,039 685 years might be a little bit of a challenge for me 356 00:31:12,220 --> 00:31:16,259 Another thing that I drew out of this is inheritances by grace 357 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:24,279 So the land that God was giving them it was not earned by them 358 00:31:24,279 --> 00:31:29,119 It was not deserved by them, but it was freely given 359 00:31:29,879 --> 00:31:31,339 by God 360 00:31:40,140 --> 00:31:41,720 And lastly 361 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:47,380 God's priority on holiness and and worship, you know the Levites 362 00:31:48,279 --> 00:31:51,859 You know their inheritance was was God 363 00:31:51,859 --> 00:31:55,339 they they their inheritance was 364 00:31:56,120 --> 00:31:58,500 serving him and 365 00:31:58,500 --> 00:32:05,119 you know how how true is that in our in our lives as 366 00:32:06,319 --> 00:32:07,460 We serve 367 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:19,319 You know, we think about all of the stuff, you know, you know in our lives and things that we have and 368 00:32:19,319 --> 00:32:22,119 the wealth that we have 369 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:28,220 But the fulfillment that comes out of serving God 370 00:32:28,759 --> 00:32:32,880 Is that a completely different level and it's a completely 371 00:32:34,000 --> 00:32:36,000 different level of 372 00:32:37,289 --> 00:32:44,970 Fulfillment that God that God gives to us. So when we serve it when we're worshipping God 373 00:32:46,349 --> 00:32:50,250 And God's presence is just all around us 374 00:32:52,069 --> 00:32:54,250 That's not something that we can earn 375 00:32:55,089 --> 00:33:00,549 That's not something that you can put on, you know, the same level as you know 376 00:33:00,549 --> 00:33:03,809 Hey, look at my house. Look at my car. Look at this stuff 377 00:33:04,529 --> 00:33:09,169 That's a different level and that's you know, that's what God was communicating 378 00:33:10,289 --> 00:33:15,990 Through through the tribe of Levi's is that these guys are getting so much more 379 00:33:15,990 --> 00:33:19,529 And I believe and I know that that is true 380 00:33:19,529 --> 00:33:25,910 True for us that God puts a high calling on worship and service 381 00:33:27,429 --> 00:33:29,349 And serving others 382 00:33:30,629 --> 00:33:32,690 So numbers 26 383 00:33:33,809 --> 00:33:40,950 This is this is God's meticulous roll call, you know for the second generation of Israel 384 00:33:42,769 --> 00:33:46,129 And it really is such a testimony that that 385 00:33:47,269 --> 00:33:53,109 Unbelief and all of this stuff that they went through and that they did 386 00:33:53,730 --> 00:33:55,349 you know 387 00:33:56,330 --> 00:33:57,809 Doesn't define 388 00:33:58,810 --> 00:34:03,049 Who they are and where God can take them God was taking them 389 00:34:03,049 --> 00:34:09,250 To to a completely different place and his covenant and promises are are unbreakable 390 00:34:10,010 --> 00:34:13,150 And his people are known by name 391 00:34:13,809 --> 00:34:20,090 All of us are known by name to God. That's an awesome awesome thing, isn't it? 392 00:34:21,989 --> 00:34:26,110 And you know, I know for me I'm gonna look at this stuff a little bit different 393 00:34:26,110 --> 00:34:31,269 I'm gonna look at like censuses and genealogies, you know a little bit a little bit different 394 00:34:31,910 --> 00:34:37,429 From here from more of a you know, okay, this is how you know, God restores 395 00:34:38,150 --> 00:34:42,150 Mercifully, this is how God, you know looks at us, you know 396 00:34:42,150 --> 00:34:49,070 He knows he knows every single person, you know by name and he has has redeemed us 397 00:34:51,150 --> 00:34:55,170 To a place into a promise of of inheritance 398 00:34:57,050 --> 00:35:03,750 So I have some handouts that you guys have and I think there's there's a lot of stuff we could we can talk through 399 00:35:04,750 --> 00:35:05,789 in groups 400 00:35:10,269 --> 00:35:15,650 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church as we praise God and discuss his word 401 00:35:15,650 --> 00:35:21,889 Don't forget to join us for worship lives Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube 402 00:35:21,889 --> 00:35:24,929 Be blessed and have a great day