Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Num. 2:2, 9, 32-33)
This census first taken at the beginning of their wanderings in the desert was not to show their own strength, but to remind them that all who were numbered would perish in the desert during their years of wandering. God chose Israel because of His plans and purposes, not because they were the biggest or most numerable of all the peoples dispersed from the Tower of Babel and encamped wherever they scattered to and settled. God also chose Judah to lead the march through the wilderness because of Jacob’s blessing and God’s foreknowledge that Jesus Christ would be born of the tribe of Judah by God’s design.
God knows each and every one of us and chooses us to be conformed to the image of His dear Son. He has called all to repent and be numbered among His people, knowing that many will reject Him despite His love for them. He wants all who have not repented and put their faith and trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to receive Him and be born again that they might stand among the redeemed and be counted as blessed. God invites whosoever will to come unto Him and surrender to Him on His terms, that they might be translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light and follow His standard, Jesus Christ, the Messiah of God, who gave Himself for our sin and now intercedes for His own and draws all who will look to Him unto Salvation.
God has sent those of us that know Him out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet