I’m going to be honest, I don’t think I’ll have professional commentary on this, seeing that I’m mostly unfamiliar with what’s in this section of Numbers, but I thought I’d line this up with how the Church is supposed to operate (maybe with help from a sketch of this chapter by a Tumblr blog I used to follow before I was shut out of the website — never mind, I couldn’t find it, but found something better). I am typing this from my phone, though, so I’m sorry if I don’t know how to work the photo uploads and how to put them in my posts on the go 😭😭😭😭😭 but this chapter is found in pages 79-80 of the NKJV Bible I have for this, pages 101-102 of the NASB Bible (Old Testament, 1995 version), pages 163-164 of my VOICE copy, and pages 164-166 of my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy.
I don’t see much how this counting of the people among the Levites ages 30-50 plays out into previous chapters (verses 34-49), but 2,750 people in the 15th century B.C.? That’s pretty cool! And I’m glad these guys followed instructions for when they leave for Canaan soon (spoiler alert, the whole nation had to wait for 40 years or so to enter), seeing the tabernacle is visually amazing! Here’s a photo of some of the men inside below:
Prerty neat, huh? Yet I’m more looking forward to the New Jerusalem city in Revelation 21 with many cool-looking sights, including streets made of gold, probably a bunch of zip lines from building to building, beach volleyball on the rooftops, houses with more stained glass than a European cathedral, water slides, etc. If we think Jesus only has music waiting for us, it defeats the purpose of Matthew 25:31-46 about the children of God coming into the Kingdom when He defeats Satan (see Revelation 20:9-10). Indeed, such thinking comes from a religious spirit, and that’s not biblical. I don’t know where the martyrs will be, but hopefully they get triple the rewards for the next kind of devotions others gave to Him ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️ but anyway, we’re supposed to be a godly church in the meantime. I do believe in prophetic change to every degree and to thwart evil plans (God does both, see Proverbs 12:7), but if we are unkind about anything or repay evil, as though God couldn’t win the war Satan had started, Jesus will say, “There no longer remains a sacrifice for you, just as Hebrews 10:26 says.”
Speaking of church activity, Acts saw some of the best work of the Gospel during Bible times, period! And while I’m not there yet, I can say none of the Christians were violent about anything, seeing that Jesus had said in Matthew 11:12 that from the beginning the kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. I think with people idolizing Kirk even after some dude shot him dead, it shows that they don’t believe in God or His ways, seeing that they love money and would do anything to claim some extra cash they don’t need. I know for my part, I don’t find it easy to stay humble and to remain faithful to Hebrews 13:5 about avoiding the love of money (1 Timothy 6:12 says that’s the root of all the evils), and upon waiting for something that was promised for me, I don’t know what to do when someone delays it, or worse, cancels it altogether. I hope I can get the restoration I deserve… I’ll need it in order to become debt-free sooner rather than later, and I don’t want to wait too long to honour Jesus like this, nor for anything else. For patience should never be used as a weapon, but when it is, it confirms the reality of Proverbs 13:12 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 and offence often wins because of this, like in Mark 2:1-12 when Jesus healed a paralytic but then some people gossiped about Him. I bet you there’s more occasions with things like this…
It really shouldn’t be the case where the Church is more unrighteous than the world around it. Indeed, I’m truly at wit’s end concerning this… I wish I could find SOMETHING to do to make it any less unbearable… but I’m glad I went to YC’s by Power Road and the 202 this afternoon to revisit some good Asian food I’ve enjoyed for years but no longer go often, seeing that I’m often busy at work and the location that’s closer had been a bad experience for me when I last went there a year ago. Regardless, I need more from God… when that comes, I’ll be thrilled! Until then, I’ll see you in the next chapter about an adultery test Moses was commanded to prescribe (chapter 5)! Later!
Ron And His Stories 