https://esv.literalword.com/?q=Numbers+26
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 12 April 2025:
Listen to this message from Dr. J. Vernon McGee on Numbers 26: https://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/popPlayer.cfm?id=4296&rel=mcgee_j_vernon/Num
Numbers 26:2 — “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ houses, all in Israel who are able to go to war.”
God counts and prepares His people for purpose and battle, not just for statistics. We were created for action, to serve God specifically, boldly, and communally. Each person has a unique and important role to play within God’s ranks. To not fulfill God’s role for you is life failure. To attempt to serve your purpose alone, apart from God’s people is life failure.
Even in a wilderness season, God knows each person by name and tribe. Your life matters to God—not just spiritually, but in the context of your family, calling, and future battles.
Nearly 40 years earlier, back in the early chapters of Numbers while Israel was still camped at Mount Sinai, God told Moses to take a census. The first census was mainly for organizing the military—so they’d know how many fighting men they had and how to structure the army as they prepared to enter and take the Promised Land. Now in Numbers 26, we see a second census, again focused on those able to go to war. This new generation needed to be counted and organized for battle too—because it was finally time to move forward.
The truth is, Israel had been organized before—what they lacked was faith. Being organized matters, and disorganization can hinder God’s work. But even the best plans and structure can’t substitute for bold, obedient trust in the Lord. The first generation was well-organized, but they lacked the faith to move forward in obedience. Despite having structure and numbers, they refused to trust God at the edge of Canaan—and died in the wilderness. Now, a new generation is counted, with only Joshua and Caleb remaining from the first generation of exiles as faithful examples. This time, the people would need both readiness and faithfulness.
The Bible explains why Joshua and Caleb would live to make it to the promised land while no one else who left Egypt did:
- Numbers 32:11–12 — Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised…. except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.
- Deuteronomy 1:36 — Except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly.
- Joshua 14:8–9 — …my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly… That land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance…. because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.
There is only one way to follow the Lord – wholeheartedly! The Bible continually makes this point:
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
- Joshua 24:14–15 — Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness…. choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
- 1 Kings 18:21 — How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.
- Matthew 6:24 — No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.
- Matthew 12:30 — Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
- Revelation 3:15–16 — I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
- Psalm 119:2 — Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
- 1 Corinthians 7:35 — I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
- James 4:8 — Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Psalm 119:113 — I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
How powerful is the life of the whole-hearted follower of Christ?
- Joshua 1:8-9 — This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Numbers 26:51, 64–65 — This was the list of the people of Israel, 601,730…. But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
After 38 years in the wilderness, Israel conducts a second census. In the first census (Numbers 1:46), there were 603,550 fighting men. Now, there are 601,730—a net loss of only 1,820 men or about 0.3%.
This minor numerical shift reflects something deeper: Israel’s population stagnated for nearly four decades, when under normal conditions it should have grown. But this was no ordinary season—it was a time of judgment, discipline, and spiritual drought. The first generation refused to trust God and perished in the wilderness, all but Joshua and Caleb. These were years of wandering, not advancing—both physically and spiritually.
If you aren’t growing, if you feel stalled and stagnant, look for compromise, infidelity, double-mindedness, and lack of trust in your life. Learn from the lessons of the Israelites who spent 40 years wandering in circles and failing to grow when their journey could have taken only a couple of weeks at the most.
- Romans 15:4 — For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
- 1 Corinthians 10:6 — Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
Yet even in stagnation, God was at work, refining and fulfilling.
The census also shows that some tribes grew while others declined sharply. For instance, Simeon lost 63% of its numbers, likely due to sin and judgment (see Numbers 25), while Manasseh grew by 64%, a sign of God’s favor and blessing. These fluctuations hint that God was still watching, weighing, and working—even when His people were stuck in a holding pattern. These gains and losses among the tribes which ultimately net a slight loss also point out that for a people to grow, all the people must grow. A popular adage to express the point is, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” You might be growing spiritually, but what about the other members of your family? What about the members of your church? Do you intend to leave them behind in the desert?
- Proverbs 24:11-12 — Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
- Ezekiel 3:18–19 – When I say to a wicked person, “You will surely die,” and you do not warn them… I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn… you will have saved yourself.
- Galatians 6:1–2 – Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently…. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
- James 5:19–20 – Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 – We urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
God places us in positions of warning and influence. Silence can be sin when others are in spiritual danger. Each person has a different need, and we are called to meet them with grace and truth. Your encouragement could be the difference between someone’s perseverance and someone’s fall. Your intervention can literally redirect a life. It’s that serious—and that beautiful. You are not just responsible for your own walk—you are your brother’s keeper. In a world that often says, “That’s not my problem,” God says, “It is if you saw it.” Love warns. Love restores. Love walks alongside. We are called to lovingly step in, not step away.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 12 April 2025: Today, strive to be wholehearted like Joshua and Caleb, but also strive to leave no one behind.
- Jude 1:23 — Save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 