Tag: census of Israel

Names

Numbers 26-27 

A census, a bunch of Hebrew names… seems difficult right?! More so in English, it’s easier in Hebrew, and the names have so much meaning! 🙂  When I first lived in Israel and learned Hebrew, names were difficult… Achinoam, Yonatan, Shaked! Hebrew names have meaning seen in the letters themselves, unlike English, so that makes it easier! It’s surprising how many adults I meet in America that don’t know what their name means.  In the Israeli hospitals where our children were born NO ONE ever asked what the new baby’s name was! The baby was identified by the mother’s first name and her mother and father. Then later named within 30 days after they were born according to their personality/character. They don’t measure the length of the baby either so as to not stretch it out after being curled up inside the womb.

Moses wasn’t allowed to lead these new people into the Promised Land. So he asked that God pick a new leader over the people. “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.” (27:16,17)

The LORD chose Joshua, “a man in whom is the Spirit.”(27:18) Interestingly, the Hebrew name of Joshua is basically Jesus/Yeshua. They have the same meaning, the LORD saves. Like Joshua was chosen by God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, so Yeshua was chosen by God to lead all people into the Promised Kingdom to those who trust in him. Both were chosen to shepherd and lead the people.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  John 10:11

-Stephanie Schlegel

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What does your name mean?! Have you seen any special connections in your name over your life span?

2. How can calling someone a bad name be hurtful? What effect does it have on people to call them a good name?!

3. What are we known for? Isn’t it a great compliment of Joshua that he was filled with the Spirit? May we be filled with the fullness of God and walk in His Spirit like Joshua did.

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Stand Up and Be Counted (Numbers 1-2)

Tuesday, August 30

rebecca tues

By Rebecca Dauksas

How would you like to be remembered? Of course, we all want to be remembered fondly.  Wouldn’t it be great if people said that you were a great person of faith? That you were so loving.  You were kind and an inspiration to them. All would be great descriptions and a fine legacy to leave for future generations.  In Numbers Chapter 1 we found men that were remembered as the head of their families given an immense task.  They were to take a “census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families listing every man by name, one by one”.  You may not recall Elizur, but he was one of the men who assisted Moses and Aaron as they counted every male who was 20 years old or older who could serve in the military. It is now that we realize how enormous this group truly is.

Elizur was from the tribe of Reuben and their count was 46,500. Lets add the men counted from the tribe of Simeon which was 59,300.  Our total with just two tribes is 105,800.  The crowd is way over the limit for the stadium used for the opening ceremony for the recent Olympic Games.  It has a capacity of 78,838.

The total of males that were twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel’s army was 603, 550. That number did not include the Levites who would take care of the tabernacle of the covenant along with all of its furnishings.

This community was huge.  Yet, God was organizing these tribes and families.  He was assigning jobs. He knew each heart and each mind.  God is able to oversee a community with millions while still overseeing our individual hearts.  That is why God was needed in the center of the Israelite camp and why we need Him in the center of our lives today.  He can orchestrate our lives giving us order and guidance.  His spirit will direct our thoughts, decisions and He directs our steps helping us do more for His kingdom. Allow Him to be at the center of your life today and be comforted to know that God always remembers us.