The First Census

As God was leading the Hebrews through the wilderness, He had Moses take a census of the people (Num. 1). From this seemingly unimportant information, we learn some rather crucial and encouraging lessons.
First, God has an enrollment of His people. In verse two He said, “take ye the sum of the people.” Although God already knew the exact number of the people, this census assured them that God did have such a record. Likewise, we can be assured and “rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Yes, God does have an enrollment of His people in our day.
Second, everyone who is enrolled is a soldier. In verse three, those who were to be numbered were “all that are able to go forth to war.” Likewise, we who are enrolled are to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3); “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12); and our armor is that of a soldier (Eph. 6:11-19). Yes, every- one who is enrolled is to be a soldier who fights for God.
Third, God knows exactly those who are His. Due to the census, God made clear that He knew tribe by tribe and person by person those who were His. Likewise, “the Lord knows them who are His” (2 Tim. 2:19). Thus, take courage, do not lose hope, do not be in despair–no matter what happens around you, if YOU live faithfully, God will not make a mistake and overlook you–because God knows exactly who are His.
Indeed. Mighty profound lessons from some old, dry information.
Gary Henson