God Ordered A Census
"Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one." -- Numbers 1:2
There's been a lot of talk about the census that will start in a few weeks. Government officials are asking everyone to be counted. They've run ads on television. They've printed lots of literature in many different languages. They've hired loads of people just to go door-to-door. It's a huge job to count everyone.
But that's exactly what God told Moses to do. So Moses counted the Israelites -- twice. The first census organized the people into marching units that were better able to defend themselves. The second census prepared them to conquer the country east of the Jordan River. You probably know the area as the Promised Land.
Now I do realize that their are far more Americans than there were Israelites. But we've got computers and calculators and all sorts of fine equipment to help us. My Bible says the population at the time of that first census probably exceeded 2 million people. That's a lot of people to count.
The second census came 38 years later after the entire Israelite population over 20 years of age, with the exception of Moses, Joshua and Caleb, had died. God said they couldn't enter the Promised Land because they'd sinned. The lesson here is not to grumble and complain all the time.
It's time for us to step up and be counted. I don't know how God feels about this census. Somehow I don't think He would view it as He viewed David's census. We have an opportunity to help give an accurate accounting of where people live, our families and our incomes. It is my hope that every homeless person, every motel dweller, every nursing home resident will be counted. This census isn't just about the people who have much, it is also about the people who have little.
I love that God ordered the first census. When He orders another one, I sure want to be counted in that one too.
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