Journey Of The Seed - Catch The Bible's Big Picture In 60 DaysSample

ROLL CALL

[Scheduled Reading: Numbers 1, 3, 9-14]

The book of Numbers begins with a roll call... a census.

One year after the jailbreak from Egypt, God orders Moses to count all the men 20 years old or older. The census count numbers over 600,000 men. 

Each of the tribes is counted, except for the tribe of Levi. The Levites are set apart to serve the system of worship and sacrifices for the Israelites. 

For Bible readers, this is a monumental distinction to note. 

God is a very sentimental God and enjoys deep symbolisms. 

In God’s mind, the Levites represent the “firstborn” of Israel – set apart for the purposes of God. 

Symbolically, the Levites were to bear the sins of the people. By undergoing ceremonial cleanings, they would be authorized to receive the offerings of the remaining tribes. 

It makes sense now why God chose a leader (Moses) from the tribe of Levi instead of the tribe of Judah. While the tribe of Judah carries The Seed into the future, the Levites had the responsibility to manage the administration and governance for the entire nation of Israel. 

In Chapter 9 we have the second Passover Celebration (the first one was on the eve of the Exodus from Egypt).

From there, morale begins to slide. Complaining and disgruntled-ness becomes the new operating standard for the Israelites. And Moses becomes the whipping boy… the target of their rebuke. 

God takes this personally – an attack against Moses is an attack against God.  

God kills thousands of Israelites for their uprisings! 

Ultimately God delivers a devastating indictment against the Israelites (Numbers 13 & 14).

A group of weak-willed spies returns from a 40-day visit to the Promised Land and spreads negative reports about the visit.  

God’s punishment is a 40-year time out. Instead of entering into Canaan (the Promised Land), they must wait 40 years for the adult generation to die off!

Only Joshua and Caleb, with the younger generation of Israelites, would be allowed to cross over. 

Twelve Minus One – Is still Twelve

Periodically we'll encounter a listing of the tribes of Israel. For example, when the Promised Land is distributed, each tribe receives a land inheritance… except the Levites. That’s because the Levites were set apart by God and were to receive the tithes and support from the other tribes. 

 

But there are still 12 tribes that receive land. How is that so? Well, the tribe of Joseph is split between his two sons – the two half tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim.