Good Morning.

Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war in Israel. (Numbers 1:2-3)

It should be understood that Israel did not literally count heads but numbered the people by collecting the half-shekel from each person who was of age. That is to say, those who were “able to go forth to war in Israel” – 20 yrs. old and up. This means that, as they made their way toward Canaan, it was as a “host” or army, not a mob of unorganized rabble. That is why the counting of the people was to see who was fit for battle, which is why the aged, the infirm and the maimed were exempted from the census.

As with all Scripture, there is a practical reason for God’s instructions to His people and then there is the spiritual application for each of these commandments. When it comes to the numbering as we read about here, it is my view that it speaks prophetically of those who are prepared for the battle that is sure to break out with the Adversary and the world. Of course, we’re not talking about conventional warfare but the kind of fight that is waged on our knees. Based on what we read here, only those strong and courageous enough to face the enemy will possess the land. They are the ones who are counted.

As followers of Messiah, we know that we don’t win battles with bullets and bombs but with weapons that are “mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.” What we need to be reminded of sometimes is that, as an army, we should not sit back and wait for the enemy to attack us — we need to take the fight to him. We should be on the offensive, taking ground from the kingdom of darkness and setting the captives free. With Messiah as our leader, we are to take this fight to the very gates of hell which, He said, will not be able to prevail against us. The issue that needs to be decided today is, do we stand ready to be counted among those who will fight or not?.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill 

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