Numbers 26
The Second Census of Israel's Army (Numbers 26:1-4, 63-65 )
Verse 4: "The Lord commanded Moses and the Israelites who came out of Egypt: 'You are to count those twenty years old or more.'"
There are two censuses recorded in the Book of Numbers. The first census is found in Numbers 1, conducted on the first day of the second
month of the second year after the Exodus. In the Wilderness of Sinai, 603,550 men aged 20 years and older who were able to go to war were
counted. Today's passage concerns the second census.
After the Israelite men engaged in immorality with Moabite women and even worshipped idols, God disciplined them with a plague and then
commanded a second census. Moses and Eleazar the priest, according to God's command, counted the number of men able to go to war
for each tribe in the plains of Moab.
1. The Command for the Second Census of Israel's Army
1) After the Kadesh Barnea rebellion, the first Exodus generation died in the wilderness.
2) When the time came, they reassembled at Kadesh Barnea to resume the Canaan conquest.
3) A moment of carelessness led to the Baal Peor incident and many plague deaths.
4) God commanded a second military census to strengthen Israel's military organization.
2. Results of the Army Census by Tribe
1) The population surveyed in Numbers 1 and the results compiled in Numbers 26.
2) Verses 5 to 37 list the counted number of able-bodied men for each tribe.
3) Verse 11 testifies that the sons of the rebel Korah did not die.
4) Korah's sons had not participated in their father's rebellion.
3. The Lesson Contained in the Second Census
1) Although Korah the rebel was disciplined, God protects those on the path of righteousness.
2) The descendants of Korah served as temple doorkeepers and choristers.
3) Everyone will experience God's accounting after finishing their life's journey.
4) We, who honor God's Word, are truly God's children.
Conclusion: The Message Given Through the Second Military Census (63-65)
1) God put to death all the soldiers from the first census during the 40 years in the wilderness.
2) He shows what consequences result from not believing God's Word.
3) We must remember that sin leading to destruction causes one to live a vain life.
4) The generational calling entrusted to the second generation was truly great.
Until the very moment this world ends, one generation will pass and another will come, again and again. Every individual lives their life as
an opportunity to be saved by holding fast to the covenant of Christ. And in each era, every person has a great redemptive-historical calling
given by God for their own generation. The second generation of the Exodus, recorded in our text, were those who received the mission of
conquering the land of Canaan for the sake of world evangelization. Therefore, in every generation, all believers should remember the history of
the faithful predecessors and, with all their heart and mind, devote themselves to the work God has entrusted, being used as God’s co-workers.
God entrusts His inheritance to each one of us who believes and has been saved. The situations each of us is currently facing are doors through
which God will give His answers. As we hold to this word today, meditate on it, and receive guidance, I believe that He will work all things
together to accomplish His good. I bless you in the name of the Lord: do not be deceived by the circumstances given to you, but always hold
firmly to the word given in the Lord Jesus Christ and be victorious.