"Take a Census"
Numbers 1:1-4:20; Hosea 2:1-22; Luke 2:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
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This week we enter the book of Numbers, or Bamidbar in Hebrew, meaning "In the Wilderness". The book begins with the census of Israel and the organization of the Tribes. As we study this Parsha we find that G-D has some very strict rules concerning who can perform certain tasks, who can go to certain places and where each tribe can live in the camp. The Levites are given the job of setting up and taking down the Tabernacle. It is also stated that anyone other then a Levite would be put to death for touching something only the Levites were to touch. I was thinking about these verses and the callings that each of us as believers have in the Kingdom of G-D. Every believer has been given giftings and callings to perform within the body of believers. When we walk in our calling and giftings we are blessed and are a blessing to others. When we walk outside of our callings we can bring about spiritual death to ourselves and those around us. G-D has a purpose for each of us. We are part of Israel through Messiah and we have a place to be and a job to do. Let's all seek G-D to find out the who, what, where, when, why and how we are to do as part of our congregation.
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This week's parsha is BaMidbar, and we are beginning at the first chapter of BaMidbar, which is interpreted Numbers. The parsha begins with the command to take a census. Several things I want to bring out here. First the Hebrew words do not say take a census. The actual Hebrew says she'u at Rosh or lift up the heads. This phrase has a double meaning. First when counted, these people would become lifted up. In other words, all of the people counted would count, or all those counted are important. The other meaning is that these are the same words used by Joseph talking about the baker who was about to have his head lifted or removed from His shoulders. It is taught that these words were used because if the people walked worthy HaShem would have lifted them up. If they didn't, their heads would be removed figuratively.
It is clear from watching the history of the Israelites that sometimes G-D lifted them up, and other times He removed their leaders (heads). I also noticed that within the church world throughout reformation, there were those that chose to follow G-D's Word. People would even be willing to die to follow G-D, but many of those following these leaders (generally) did not. The result was that the anointing and the revival left. They had no heads, and anything with no heads or with two heads is a freak. (One doesn't know what to do and one cannot decide what to do.) There a lot of chickens running around without heads and heads running around without chickens.
The second point I would like to make is also found in verse two. The lineage or tribe follows the FATHER. No matter what anyone else says G-D's Word is always true, and His word says the FATHER. The argument that the tribe follows the father and Jewishness follows the mother doesn't hold water, because we are only one. It let everyone know that each person was valued exactly the same Jewish because we come from one of the tribes. That is the criteria for Jewishness.
It is also important to understand why this census was taken. It was not taken to so that G-D would know how many people there were. The reason for the census was that they were about to enter the Land. They were about to divide the land, and they needed (Moshe) to know how many slices to slice it into. We also know that the way that G-D had given to count the people was to use a half-shekel offering. This showed several things. One it let everyone know that each person was valued exactly the same and reminded them that they would get equal portions. They didn't count the Levites, because they were not getting Land. The other thing this count showed was that G-D had the ability NOT ONLY to protect the people but ALSO to PROSPER them . . .EVEN IN THE WILDERNESS. If HaShem can protect and prosper in the wilderness, just think what He can do in the Promised Land. This should encourage us. If we are honest, many times we feel as if we are traveling in the wilderness with G-D. We feel as if we are walking circles and being attacked by the enemy. But just as G-D not only protected Israel in the wilderness but even in the midst of their sometimes unbelief and rebellion, we should know He can and will protect and prosper us also.
We also need to know that (1) at the beginning of this journey the Israelites were counted, (2)at the end they were counted, and (3) at each end of the journey they still were worth a half shekel each. Nobody lost value. Nobody gained value. Y'shua taught of those that worked in the field. Some worked all day. Some worked part of the day. Some just started at the end of the day. But they all were paid the same amount. It is also important to say that Moses and the leaders also were counted by only a half shekel. From the greatest "in our eyes" to the least. . .all equally loved by G-D. It is hard for us to understand, because no matter how we try, we cannot love everyone equally. . .not even our children. We might try to be fair, but each one is different to us. But G-D CAN and DOES love us all the same amount. It doesn't matter how long we serve Him or for how short. It only matters that we do. If we could ever look at the value of each of us as G-D does, none of us would doubt our being worthy through Messiah to be called the Sons and Daughters of G-D. I have heard so many people say, "I'm not good enough" or "I don't deserve His Love." They are right . . .if they don't or haven't accepted Messiahs sacrifice. But once we accept that atonement sacrifice and believe that Y'shua was the Messiah of Israel, we all deserve it equally. . . male or female Jew or Non-Jew any color. . . equally. . . one-half shekels worth. Its just the right amount. Its not so much as to become proud, and its not so little as to fall short. As Goldilocks, "a nice Jewish girl" said, "JUST RIGHT!"
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This week we begin the Book of Numbers with Parsha Bamidbar. Bamidbar, which means "in the wilderness", starts off with the counting of a census. The Children of Israel have at this point traveled for two years. This group of people numbering in the millions began with only 70 people. As we read this census count and all of the miraculous growth of this nation, we can see the power of G-D to preserve and protect those whom He has called. This group of people who were born in slavery and had been living in freedom. They have been to the Mountain and recieved the Torah and were preparing to enter the promised land of Israel. They knew of the supernatural power of G-D, they had seen the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the sweetening of the waters of Marah, and the Fire on Mount Sinai. Each of these events should have brought them closer to G-D and should have given them even more reason to hold fast to the covenant they had made with Him. However, these were also the people who, while Moshe was on the mountain, had chosen to call upon Aaron to make a golden calf for them to worship. As they stood upon the shores of the Red Sea they complained because they did not see the plan of G-D with their eyes and had to depend on Him totally with blind faith, believing that G-D had everything in control even when they could only see the problems with their eyes. Each of us have had both of these types of events in our lives. We have had times when it was totally clear to us that G-D was in charge. There were other times when all we saw were our problems and troubles standing before us. The thing to remember is that it doesn't matter which time we are in at any particular moment in our lives, what we need to be clear about in our understanding is that G-D is in total control of all things at all times. We don't have to know what He is going to do at each event in our lives; what we do need to know without a shadow of a doubt is that He loves us more then we can even understand and He is working things out for our good. As I thought about this mighty nation that began with only 70 people it brought to my mind that 70 is around the same number of people we have in services with us on a regular basis now. It will be exciting to see what G-D will do with our 70. Now lets look back and see all that G-D has done for us in the past and then look ahead with our hearts to all that He will do for us in the future. When we look with our hearts instead of our eyes we will see love instead of problems, mercy instead of trials and deliverance instead of tribulation. Not because there won't be trials, problems or tribulations, but because we will understand that G-D can handle all of our trials, problems and tribulations if we will just tend to our part of the covenant, which is to Love Him back with not just our mouths but with our lives.