Numbers 4:42-45 The Draft

 42And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families, 43everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 44The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200. 45These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses.

The Draft

The Merarites were numbered (counted) by their clans and families, “the men registered by their clans numbered 3,200.”

When I graduated high school I had just turned eighteen and I had to register for the military draft. I was categorized, registered and entered into the lottery. My number was up because I received a low draft number from the lottery. Shortly thereafter the draft was discontinued. 

I recently read a story of a young man who enlisted at the age of fourteen during WW2 and he became a waist gunner on a bomber. The article even had a picture of him posing with a .50 caliber machine gun. The army air corps eventually found out he lied 🤥 about his age and sent him home. 

After being born again I was drafted into the Lord’s army to serve Him. We’ve adopted, served in various church ministries, became a founding member of a chaplaincy, a volunteer chaplain serving our community, veterans at a veterans home and now I try to encourage fellow saints.

I was saved by grace and by grace I serve.

Blessings 

Numbers 4:38-41 Numbers

 38Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families, 39everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 40And those numbered by their clans and families totaled 2,630. 41These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command.

Numbers 

When I was in grade school I had a problem with math, fractions and such. I just couldn’t comprehend it. We didn’t know that I was ADHD or that it even existed back then. My dad was repainting the living room and he sat me down on the couch and hammered into me the basics of math. After a long weekend a light 💡 went on and I got it. When I raised my son I tried teaching him at the kitchen table but he still didn’t understand. So I would take him shopping with me and I would ask him to estimate the total “number” of $$ for goods by rounding up, the amount of $$ handed to the cashier, subtracting the $$ rounded up and change received. After a while he got the hang of it and he could make the purchase and tell the the amount of change we should receive. 

My mind couldn’t do algebra or geometry but thanks to my dad I got A’s in senior math and I still use those math “numbers” today when I shop.

The book of Numbers is adding up all the Israelites by their tribes, clans and assigning duties.

The Lord knows the number of hairs on your head.

Are you numbered by Him as His?

Blessings 

Numbers 4:34-37 Book of Life!

 34So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the Kohathites by their clans and families, 35everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting. 36And those numbered by their clans totaled 2,750. 37These were counted from the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command of the LORD through Moses.

To some, the Old Testament seems boring and it did to me too before being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

I was raised Catholic, baptized at birth and went to parochial school. Was I saved in these early years? The church says I was but I don’t believe I had that personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Am I saying you are not saved by being Catholic? 

NOT AT ALL! I’m just explaining my personal experience.

Attending a church doesn’t save you, your faith in Jesus Christ does.

Read John 3.

But in my mid forties I was drug by my wife, kicking and screaming that is, to a non denominational Bible teaching church and after about six months of attending I was truly born again and had a personal relationship with Jesus as my Lord and savior. That’s when I really began reading through the whole Bible. The life stories and history are all laid out for us to learn from. 

It’s truly is a book of life! 

Is it one for you?

Blessings 

Numbers 4:29-33 Merarites AND Law and Order

 The Duties of the Merarites

(Numbers 3:33–37; 1 Chronicles 23:21–23)

29As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families, 30from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting.

31This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases, 32and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry.

33This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

Law and order, for every purpose under heaven! It’s interesting to me how the Lord was very specific in administering to the Tent of Meeting and to the Israelites in general. He was very specific and wanted law and order applied to everything.

Is your household clean and orderly? 

With everything that the Lord has given you, have you been responsible and orderly with it? I’ve known people who were dirt poor and one even had a dirt floor in their home but they were clean and orderly. I’ve known others that threw their garbage out the front door and have taken what little the Lord has bestowed upon them and destroyed it.

What about your children, have you raised them properly in the Lord and to respect law and order?

There will come a time when you will have to kneel in front of the Lord and be accountable for your life.

How will that go for you?

Blessings 

Numbers 4:21-28 Burden Bearers or Bearing Burdens?

 I know this is long and I encourage you to read it. After the verses in Numbers is Spurgeon’s commentary, it was true then as it is today. 

Burden bearers or bearing burdens?

Enjoy & blessings!

The Duties of the Gershonites

(Numbers 3:21–26; 1 Chronicles 23:7–11)

21And the LORD said to Moses, 22“Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans, 23from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

24This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport: 25They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, 26the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items.

27All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry. 28This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

The Gershonites were burden bearers!

“There are some of us who can be very glad and merry, for we have naturally great elasticity of spirit, yet we are bowed down, day after day, by the apostasy of the professing church of this present age, and by the way in which everything is followed except Christ. Every kind of false doctrine is popular nowadays, but the Gospel of Jesus Christ is derided as old-fashioned and out of date, and I know not what. Sometimes, the very bread we eat seems bitter, and the air we breathe is contaminated, because of the sin that is everywhere around us.

Well, dear friends, whenever you feel depressed and burdened on this account, so that you go like one who misses the light of the sun, say to yourself, “It must be so, this is what must happen to those who are of an earnest, burning spirit. They must be consumed with grief by reason of the iniquities of the times, for it is appointed unto the families of the Gershonites that they shall serve by bearing burdens, and this is our burden.”

I might say much more upon this head, but I will not, for you all know that the burdens which God puts upon His children, or allows others to lay upon them, are very many and very varied. But this is the comfort of it, their burdens are all for the Lord. If they are in a right state of heart, this burden-bearing is true service for the Lord.

Remember how Peter wrote, “For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called.” If the buffeting comes upon you for Christ’s sake, you are, in some sense, made partakers of His sufferings, and you shall also be partakers of His glory.

A true child of God lives wholly for God. He is not merely a Christian when he goes up to the place of worship, and sings the praise of the Lord, but he seeks to live for God as soon as he opens his eyes in the morning, and until he closes them again at night. It is for God that he eats and drinks and for God that he buys, and sells, and works, and gives, or saves, or does whatever it is right for him to do.” 

The Levite of old had no business to do in the world but the business of God, and the true Christian is in the same condition, for though he keeps a shop, or ploughs the fields, he keeps shop for Jesus, and ploughs the fields for Jesus. He is not his own master, but he is the servant of Another, even the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is his joy to labor faithfully as a steward and a servant on behalf of his Master. (Spurgeon)

Numbers 4:16-20 The Kohathites and the whole Bible!

 16Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”

17Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 18“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites. 19In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry. 20But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The other day I read a post on Gab that claimed we should disregard “the whole Old Testament”. I was tempted to reply but I knew it would only start an argument which I believe he wanted. A wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Jesus fulfilled the Law and quoted the Old Testament many times.

He also appeared (Christophany) many times in the Old Testament and it includes prophecies of the Messiah!

“I choose to believe the Bible because it’s a reliable collection of historical documents written by eyewitness during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.” (Voddie Baucham)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G1XJ7DeR5fc Voddie Baucham, Why I choose to believe the Bible.

Satan would love that you disregard the whole Old Testament!

An old quotation comes to mind: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." (George Santayana, 1863-1952)

There are a lot of life lessons in the Old Testament which is why I continue to read through the whole Bible.

Blessings 

I am, He is Jude 1:1

 I want to spend more time studying and reading the Bible but have struggled with where to go. Old Testament? New Testament? Gospels, Prophets, Letters, history, Law? 

When I take my walks with Joy I often listen to Bible Teachings I have downloaded on my phone. One of my favorite Pastors is Ed Taylor from Calvary Chapel in Aurora Colorado. I’ve been listening to his teaching in Hebrews. The other day he mentioned Jude was the shortest book in the Bible. Jokingly he said “Go home today and read Jude. Then you can boast you read a whole book in one day.” 

I thought that was a fine idea. The reading part, not the boasting. 

Jude was the half brother of Jesus. Yes, Jesus had siblings. In Matthew 13:55 we learn about His immediate family. “ ‘Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all His sisters with us?”

So Jude, being the half brother of Jesus could have been the ultimate name dropper of all time. If Jesus was in your immediate family, wouldn’t you boast about it? 

Are you? Boasting about it that is. Because you are. He is. A member of your immediate family that is. 

The Bible tells us in John 1:12 we are adopted into His family. “But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.”

So go out and boast about it! I am! He is! Because I am a child of God. 

Jude 1:1 This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James.

I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.

In His Name, Cecilia

Awe Nuts! Jude 1:1

Did you grow up under the shadow of an older sibling? Did  you go through high school being compared to your brainiac or athletic older brother or sister? Can you imagine the conversations in Jude’s house growing up under the shadow of an older brother who truly was perfect? 

Jude didn’t even believe Jesus was the Messiah until after His resurrection. Mark 3:21 tells us “When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.” His own siblings thought he was nuts. 

Jude1:1 This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.

That reminds me of another Bible story of sibling rivalry. Joseph’s brothers were so jealous of him they sold him o the first merchant caravan that came along. 

Genesis 37:28 So when the Ishmaelites, who were Midianite traders, came by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to them for twenty piecesd of silver. And the traders took him to Egypt.

In His Name, Cecilia 

Numbers 4:11-15 Or they will die!

 11Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles. 12They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.

13Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it, 14and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

Your family been chosen for an important ministry serving our Lord and the instructions are quite clear, but there’s only one catch! If you don’t do it properly and touch the holy things your fate is for cast, or they will die!

I don’t believe I would have lasted long in this ministry before my fate was cast.

I thank God the Father for His Son Jesus Christ from saving me from eternal death!

Be thankful and thank the Lord for your blessings.

Blessings 

Numbers 4:7-10 Organized and Orderly!

 7Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it. 8And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.

9They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it. 10Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame.

The continual bread, i.e. shew-bread; so called because it was continually to be there, even in the wilderness; where though they had only manna for themselves, yet they reserved corn for the weekly making of these loaves, which they might with no great difficulty procure from some of the people bordering upon the wilderness in the innermost parts whereof they were. (Poole)

From these verses can you see how well organized and orderly the Kohathites were?

Our pastor has to prepare and organize his sermons months in advance and submit them to the elders for approval. The process (checks and balances) is because the elders are responsible to the church and the teachings have to be true to the word of the Lord.

The Lord likes His house (Tent of the Meeting) to be organized and orderly, the Levites were assigned by their families and given assigned tasks.

Our church is no different. We have all kinds of teams that have their assigned tasks.

Is your church organized and orderly?

Blessings 

Numbers 4:1-6 Strength and Wisdom

 The Duties of the Kohathites

(Numbers 3:27–32; 1 Chronicles 23:12–20)

1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families, 3men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

4This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things. 5Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it. 6They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.

From thirty to fifty years old is considered to be in the prime of a mans life combining strength and wisdom. Younger than thirty most of us were immature and didn’t have enough life experience to be wise!

Thinking 🤔 of your life, at what age did you become wise?

I didn’t consider myself being wise until I became “born again” and at that moment I was still an infant 👶(immature) concerning knowledge in the faith. (Christianity)

It’s one thing to have knowledge of faith (Bible) but it’s another thing to act on it, to walk as Jesus walked. If you get into a situation and your not sure what to do, remember WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do)

Blessings 

Good Works!

 “WHERE DO GOOD WORKS COME FROM?

WHAT IS THE USE OF GOOD WORKS?

the religion which we profess in this place and which we preach IS CALCULATED TO PRODUCE GOOD WORKS IN THE CHILD OF GOD”. (Charles Spurgeon)

Ephesians 2: 8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

We know from the scriptures that good works cannot save you but only the blood of Christ. Once you have been sprinkled with His blood for your salvation the Holy Spirit begins to change us from the inside out. It’s that outward change that people can see we are His.

Part of your testimony as a Christian is when someone who knew you as a sinner that says, you have changed! It’s that change that can open a door when they ask, what happened?

And it’s that change at the prodding of the Holy Spirit that produces good works. We do good works because He asks us to and it brings us closer to God.

“the religion (faith in Christ) which we profess in this place and which we preach IS CALCULATED TO PRODUCE GOOD WORKS IN THE CHILD OF GOD”.

Ephesians 2: 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Is the Lord trying to use you as an instrument of good works?

Blessings 

Hard Times!

“Joy in Life's Hard Times” 

“Now, I find, in one place, it is recorded that, on a certain occasion, during a certain adverse condition of a nation, God promised that at evening time it should be light. If I found that in any human writing, I should suppose that the thing might have occurred once, that a blessing was conferred in emergency on a certain occasion, but I could not from it deduce a rule; but when I find this written in the Book of God, that on a certain occasion when it was evening time with His people God was pleased to give them light, I feel myself more than justified in deducing from it the rule, that always to His people at evening time there shall be light.” (Spurgeon)

It seems day in and day out life is just hard and Genesis 3 explains why!

The year 2020 was a bad year of hard times for many and the Bible foretells 2021 may be worse! It seems like the world and our country is racing towards destruction.

But Jesus and my wife help me get through it all and to His people at evening time there shall be light!

Dear Heavenly Father, I lift up and pray for those that are alone, that are struggling and are generally in hard times, please give then comfort and keep your hand of protection over them. Draw them closer to You, bless them and guide them through the Holy Spirit. Please give us joy in life’s hard times and we hold onto the rule “that at evening time there shall be light”! I pray this in Jesus name, amen.

Blessings 

You are now mortal! 1 Corinthians 15:52-55

 You are now mortal!

When my father died a good friend emailed me and said “you are now mortal”!

I replied and asked for an explanation and he said that my father was the last of his generation and I was next, you are now mortal!

Now that I’m older I can actually see what my friend was referring to. I wish I was a better son a better husband, better in school, better in friendships, a better christian, a better man. As my body ages I see my mortality, I can see an end coming to my life on this earth.

But I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 15: 52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: 

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55“Where, O Death, is your victory?

Where, O Death, is your sting?”

I look forward to going home, to being with Jesus in heaven.

What about you?

The Prickly Pear Cactus And The Pack Rat. Matthew 24

 You’ve probably all heard of prickly pear cactus. They are the ones with the big round pads and red fruit. Various edibles are made from the fruit. It has a subtle strawberry flavor. The pads are also edible when prepared carefully and properly. The cactus can also supply water and believe it or not, shade from the scorching sun. 

We had a lot of prickly pear cactus in our yard in Arizona. I would try to keep them cleaned up because of the pack rats. Our dogs loved to go after the rats and would sometimes end up with  cactus needles in themselves.

Pack rats make their home in prickly pear cactus. They make an elaborate network of tunnels and “rooms” in the cactus. Several generations could live in the prickly pear and in the ground under the cactus. 

In the process of making their homes in the cactus, the pack rat will eventually kill the cactus. It’s kind of sad when you think about it. The very object that provides food, water and shelter for the pack rat to survive is destroyed by the pack rat. 

We saw this same thing this past summer in the United States. Seattle, Minneapolis and Portland, New York and Kenosha to name a few. Cities destroyed by residents and nonresidents alike.  Cities that were burned, looted and blown up. It was sad. It was horrible. Unfortunately It will continue. It will get worse. The Bible tells us so.  

Matthew 24: 6And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 

9“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 

37“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

We are living in the times Jesus discussed  in Matthew. A time of hatred and war and destruction. Hard times are ahead. Life as we knew it just a few short years ago has forever changed. It’s sad but it was also foretold. We are living in HIS historical times. And that is also a little exciting. 

In His name

Death ☠️

 Death ☠️ 

Two days ago on my brothers birthday a good friend of his, a fellow coworker passed away. Last year I was taking a trip to another state and my brother had asked if we could stop at his friends house for lunch. It wasn’t too far out of the way and he commented he hadn’t seen him in years and that his friend had cancer. I thought about talking to him about Jesus when we were there but I got cold feet. I had told myself that I would let my brother and his friend catch up on things while I waited outside. 

Hebrews 9:27 Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

So you see folks, our human body is appointed to die once because we are corruptible. But the second death 💀 is referring to our spirit (soul). We all need to be more bold and talk to people about Jesus and His gift of salvation, instead of getting cold feet. Pray that He gives us the words to speak and the boldness to speak them before it’s too late. In Jesus name I pray.

Numbers 3:44-51 Bought with a price! ✝️

 44Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 45“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD. 46To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, 47you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs. 48Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the excess among the Israelites.”

49So Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of the number redeemed by the Levites. 50He collected the money from the firstborn of the Israelites: 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. 51And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the word of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

Bought with a price! ✝️

The firstborn was first introduced by the pharaoh in Egypt and Moses upon hearing it said that the pharaoh with his own words spoke of the last and final plague. 

The firstborn of Israel were the Lords because He bought them with a price! This was the forerunner of Jesus who bought us with a price!

“Within the idea of purchase lies hidden the essence of the Savior’s work and therefore it is to be ad- hered to. He is coming again to complete the redemption of the purchased possession and we shall not forego our hope to please the squeamish. Paul, at any rate, was not afraid of the mercantile theory, if so men please to call it, for he writes, “You are bought,” yes, to make it still more sure, he puts it, “bought with a price.” This is put very strongly and there is no planing it down. If it means anything, it must mean that a price was paid for us. Instead of our being forever captives under bondage and death, a ran- som has been found, according to that ancient saying, “Deliver him from going down to the pit. I have found a ransom.” (Spurgeon)

“but we believe that Jesus did actually redeem His people by a ransom, which ransom was His suffering and death in their stead, by which the justice of God was satisfied and His law was honored. If there were no other text in Scripture, the one which is now before us would abundantly justify us in using those very expressions which have been ridiculed as mercantile, “You are not your own: for you are bought with a price.” Though we were not redeemed with corruptible things, as with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, yet the transaction was none the less real and effective. An equivalent was given, a possession was secured. “ (Spurgeon)

You also were bought with a price! 

Will you refuse the purchase and demand a refund?

If so, you have secured a place for your soul in the pit!

We are praying for you that the Lord touches your heart ❤️ and you accept His purchase.

Blessings 

Numbers 3:40-43 Census or Numbers? Numbered and Sealed! 📜

 40Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names. 41You are to take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”

42So Moses numbered all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him. 43The total number of the firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.

Census or Numbers? Numbered and Sealed! 📜 

“Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names.” 📜 

How did the Book of Numbers get its name?

The Book of Numbers is one of three books of the Torah that follows the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. 

The first book, Exodus, recounts the Israelites struggles in Egypt and their flight into the desert. 

The second book, Leviticus, accounts for a less than two-month period at the base of Mount Sinai where they camped and were given the Laws.

The third book, Numbers concludes the story of the exodus.

The Book of Numbers is named after the “census” (numbering) that the Israelites conducted while in the wilderness for 38 years. 

Numbers chapter 1, The First Census of Israel. 

Numbers chapter 26, The Second Census of Israel. 

Did you know if you were counted (numbered and sealed) as His (Jesus)? 📜 

Ephesians 1:13 13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

Philippians 4:3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

Revelation 3:5 All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Blessings 

Numbers 3:37-39 Moses, Aaron and the Four BE’s 🐝

 Moses and Aaron

38Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

39The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000.

The family of Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp on the east side of the tabernacle, closest to the entrance.

God laid out order and organization for certain jobs from the high priest to a burden bearer. He likes things done in an orderly manner.

If you are involved in a ministry perform your duties to the best of your ability in an orderly manner as if you were doing it for Jesus. 

It doesn’t matter if you are running a ministry or just setting up a room for one, everyone involved is just as important in the eyes of the Lord because He loves us all.

Moses didn’t think he was qualified to free and lead his people, the Israelites.

The best ministry leader is one who thinks like Moses, that he/she isn’t qualified.

The four BE’s 🐝 of ministry:

BE humble, BE orderly and BE organized and you will BE used by the Lord.

Blessings