LESSON 7 NEW GENERATION OF ISRAEL NUMBERED

Numbers 26:1-65

The children of Israel were about to entre the Promised Land. It had been almost forty years of walking around in the wilderness after  the  Lord brought them out of the land of Egypt. Now God commanded Moses that he should number the Israelites again. Recall that the first numbering took place while they encamped at Mount Sinai, in preparation for their march to the Promised Land (Numbers 1: 1-4,  17-19).   God’s purpose for  bringing them out of Egypt was actually to take them to the land of Canaan  as He had promised Abraham (Genesis 15: 13, 14, 18-21; 17: 7, 8)

Unfortunately, due their stubbornness, murmuring, complaining and disobedience, most of the older generation of the children of Israel died in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb who with the eyes of faith saw the good of the land that God had promised to give the children of Israel (Hebrews 3: 10, 11). As the new generation of Israel was now about to settle down in the Land of Canaan, God again commanded Moses that the new generation of Israel be numbered. There are important lessons that the Lord wants to teach us from this command

1.      THE    PLAN    AND    REASONS     FOR    THE    COMMAND    TO    NUMBER ISRAEL:

Numbers 26: 1-4, 6; 14: 29-33; 1 Corinthians 10: 4-12

“And it came to pass after the plague, that the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to war in Israel” (Numbers 26: 1, 2). This passage of the Bible was the direct command God gave to Moses in respect of the numbering of the new generation of Israel.

Many children of Israel who were numbered with the older generation died in the wilderness because of unbelief, murmuring and disobedience. This was the reason God commanded Moses to number the people again. The love of this world, unbelief, murmuring and disobedience have made many people to forsake the Lord and lose their godly heritage.

1. Judas Iscariot was numbered among the twelve apostles of Jesus, but because of his love for earthly riches, he betrayed the Lord and lost his people.
2. Demas, a companion of Apostle Paul was numbered among the workers in the early church, but because of his love for this present evil world, he forsook the Lord and lost his position among the saints of God (2 Timothy 4: 10).
3. Ananias and Sapphira were numbered among the early church, but perished because of their sin.

Remember, all saved boys and girls are numbered among the chosen generation of God’s people who await the coming of the Lord Jesus to take us to our heavenly home. Nevertheless, it is important to note that, it is not automatic that everyone will get to heaven and inherit eternal blessings. Our qualification will depend on the determination of each individual to remain faithful and obedient to God’s word.

2.      PURPOSE AND PROCESS OF NUMBERING ISRAEL:

Numbers 26: 1 – 56

The command to number Israel again was not because God did not know their population. God has record of every soul on earth. He did not need human beings to tell Him the population of the people. He had specific purposes for ordering the cencus. This was the reason He gave Moses a detailed process of how to go about the numbering of His chosen people. The command involves:

1. Identifying those who are twenty years and above
2. Counting according to their This shows that God loves orderliness and is concerned about every soul. The purposes of the census therefore, include:
   • To identify those who would be enlisted into the army, prepare the nation for military responsibilities and to possess their inheritance.
   • To clearly identify and separate the true Israelites from the mixed multitudes that went out with them
   • It was to ensure proper distribution of inheritance and benefit of the Promised Land (Numbers 26: 51 – 53).
   • The numbering was to ensure that the number of people in each tribe was given so that there would be fairness and orderliness in sharing the inheritance of Canaan.
   • God used the numbering exercise to warn the generation of Israel about the danger of unbelief, murmuring and disobedience, which prevented the older generation from getting to the Promised
   • Finally, the numbering of the new generation of the Israelites and sharing of inheritance and benefits of Canaan among all the tribes was to prove God’s  faithfulness  to  His   promises  and  to  teach  the  new generation to have faith in Him and be holy all the days of their lives (Deuteronomy 6: 2,5, 6).

God’s desire is for everyone to be saved, numbered among the redeemed and eventually inherit eternal blessings. If you are not yet a friend of Jesus, you must not delay any longer. Now is the day of salvation; accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour.

3.      PATH TO BE NUMBERED AMONG GOD’S HERITAGE:

Numbers 26: 1-4, 51-65

After counting all the tribes of Israel, the number was 601,730 excluding the Levites. This family of Levi was separated to serve as priests of the Lord. Today, all saved children are the “Israel” of God.  They have their names in the book of life. It is important that you continue to live a holy life so that you can remain among the number.

However, for sinful children, their names are in the book of records. Any sinner who refuses to repent will suffer in hell fire forever. The call to every sinner now is to repent and be numbered among the redeemed. If you are sinner, and you desire to be numbered among the children of God and get to heaven at last, you must take the following steps:

• Admit that you are a sinner and confess your sins to
• Forsake all your sins and ask God to forgive you and cleanse your heart with the blood of
• Invite and receive Jesus into your heart as your personal Saviour and
• Believe that God has saved you and thank Him for your
• Continue to follow Jesus  by  obeying  God’s  word  and  living  a  holy  life

Rise Up And Pray To Be Numbered Among God’s People

QUESTIONS:

1. Mention the main reason God commanded Moses to number the new generation of Israel _                                                                                  
2. What are the purposes of the numbering?
3. All boys and girls who come to church are numbered among friends of True/False
4. How can a sinner be numbered among God’s heritage?

MEMORY VERSE: “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.” (Numbers 26: 52, 53)

LESSON: Only truly saved and holy children can be numbered among God’s people.

THOUGHT:  I will live holy always to be numbered among God’s heritage.

ACTIVITY: Prayer and altar-call.

CONGREGATIONAL SONG: GHS 52 – COUNT ME

CHORUSES:

(1) Are you in the number?                                  

(2) I am a soldier in the army of the Lord

(3) You must be born again.

HOMEWORK: Write in your homework book three reasons your name should remain in the book of life.

BIBLE WORD SEARCH

Find the meanings of these words. You can use your dictionary.

1. Census
2. Population
3. Redeemed
4. Heritage
5. Generation