Numbers 26;26

Numbers 26:26 says, Of the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.  Next to be counted was the tribe of Zebulun, from his three sons.  Verse twenty-seven adds, These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred. There were sixty thousand five hundred of the men men over twenty who were able to go to war, an increase of three thousand, one hundred in the wilderness wanderings.  Verse twenty-eight states, The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.  Joseph's sons were Manasseh and Ephraim and they were counted in his place.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.  Verse thirty says, These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:  Evidently, the grandsons were named in the count as well.  Verse thirty-one adds, And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:  Verse thirty-two continues, And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.  Verse thirty-three states, And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.  We even have daughters named in thectribe of Zebulun, which is unusual.  Verse thirty-four adds, These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.  There was a total of fifty-two thousand seven hundred men twenty or over who were able to fight in the tribe of Manasseh, an increase of twenty thousand five hundred.  Verse thirty-five says, These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.  Now we have the sons of Ephraim listed.  Verse thirty-six adds, And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.  Verse thirty-seven continues, These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.  There were thirty-two thousand, five hundred men over twenty who were able to go to war in the tribe of Ephraim, a decrease of eight thousand.  We are again reminded that Manasseh and Ephraim were the sons of Joseph.  Joseph had not been left out of the people of Israel, even though he couldn't go with them physically to the Promised Land. and neither will we be left out of God's kingdom as followers of Christ, even if we cannot go physically to heaven, our promised land.

Numbers 26:12

Numbers 26:12 says, The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites:  Next to be counted were the tribe of Simeon.  Verse rwelve adds,  Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.  There were four tribes from Simeon.  Verse fourteen continues, These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.  There were a total of twenty-two thousand, two hundred men of the tribe of Simeon who were twenty years old or older and able to go to war.  This was a decreaase of thirty-seven thousand one hundred from the original count.  They had decreased more than any other tribe, partly because one whole family, that of Obed, had died in the wilderness.   I wonder if the number of Christians were counted today as opposed to a generation ago, would our number be more or less, especially of the men.  Verse fifteen states, The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites:  Next to be counted were the tribe of Gad, by the particular families of his sons.  Verse sixteen adds, Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:  Verse seventeen continues, Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites. Verse eighteen concludes, These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.   There was now a total of forty thousand five hundred of the tribe of Gad, a decrease of five thousand, one hundred and fifty.   Verse nineteen says, The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.  The next counted were the tribe of Judah, through his sons, which did not include Er and Onan, who had died in the wilderness.  Being physically born into God's chosen people did not ensure entrance into the Promised Land, just as being physically born into a Christian family today does not ensure entrance into heaven.  It was and is dependent on obedience to God, starting with putting ones faith in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah then and the Messiah Who has come now.  Verse twenty adds, And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanit, Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.  Verse twenty-one continues, And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.  Ths sons of Pharez were also counted.  Verse twenty-two concludes, These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred. There was now seventy-six thousand, five hundred men of Judah over the age of twenty who were able to go war, an increase of nineteen hundred.  Verse twenty-three states,  Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:   Next to be counted was the tribe of Issachar, by the families of his sons.  Verse twenty-four adds, Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.  Verse twenty-five continues, These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.  There was total of sixty-four thousand, three hundred men over twenty who were capable of going to war in the tribe of Issachar, an increase of nine thousand, nine hundred. 

Numbers 26:1

Numbers 26:1 says, And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,  Verse two adds, 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.  Once again, Moses was to count the number of the men of Israel, from twenty years old and up who could go to war, but this time he was to do it with Eleazar, who was now the head of the priests.  When one of God's people dies, as Aaron had, there is always another to take their place.as long as we listen to Him.  Verse three states, And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,  Verse four adds, Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt. Moses and Eleazar assembled the people in the plains of Moab, near Jordan, near Jerico and told them once more to count those men above twenty by tribe according to God's command.  If God tells us to do something again that we have already done before, we don't need to question Him or grumble, we just need to do it.  Verse five says, Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:   Verse six adds, Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.  Rueben, the oldest son of Israel and his sons were the first to be counted.  Verse seven continues, These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.  This was two thousand, seven hundred and seventy fewer than the first count.  Verse nine states, And the sons of Pallu; Eliab. And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD;  Verse ten adds,, And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.  One reason that the number of people in the tribe of Rueben decreased was because of the prideful rebellion against God by Dathan and Abiram, with Korah who had rebelled against God, and the earth had swallowed them up.  The number of Christians in the world today may decease. because fewer people are willing to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, but it should never be because those who profess to believe in Him have rebelled against Him.   Verse eleven continues, Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not. The children of Korah were still counted, because they had not joined in the rebellion against God.  Even if others who profess to be followers of Christ rebel against God, we must never join them.  

Numbers 25:10

Numbers 25:10 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse eleven adds, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.  God told Moses that the actions of Phineas, the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, the family designated to be priests, on behalf of God, had turned His wrath away from Israel.  Our actions on behalf of God should be like those of Phinehas and turn God's wrath away from people, especially those who are supposed to be God's people, though this doesn't mean we are to kill some of them.  Verse twelve continues, Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:  God said He gave Phinehas His covenant of peace, just as He does to us today if we are followers of Christ and are obedient to Him. Verse thirteen concludes, And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.  God said that since Phinehas was zealous for Him and made atonement for the people of Israel, He would make Phinehas and his descendants an everlasting priesthood.  Though we must accept Him individually, Jesus Christ made atonement for us, and once we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we are a part of an everlasting priesthood.  Verse fourteen states, Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites. The man who was slain with the Midianite woman was Zimri, who was the son of the prince of the house of the tribe of Simeon.  No matter how important we may be in the eyes of the world, if we are sinners who have not accepted God's gift of salvation, we are no better than the poorest of sinners.  All will one day go away to everlasting punishment, forever separated trom God's grace and forgiveness.  Verse fifteen adds, And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.  The Midianite woman was the daughter of Zur, who was the chief over the house of Midian, so she would have also been an important person to the Midianites.  No matter how important a person may view themself in the world, they are not exempt from God's word, and if they do not accept Him as the only God, they will one day face His judgment.  Verse sixteen declares, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse seventeen adds, Vex the Midianites, and smite them:  God told Moses to vex the Midianites and slay them.  God had punished the Israelites with a plague for their defiance of Him, but He was going to punish the Midianites with destruction, because they were leading the people of God into idolatry.  Those guilty of idolatry, whether they call themselves God's people are not, will always face God's judgment.  Verse eighteen continues, For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor’s sake.  God told Moses that he was to destroy the Midianites because they were leading God's people away from Him.  The world today will try to lead us away from God's will, but we must never allow them to do so.  Still, instead of trying to kill them, we are to reach out to them with the gospel of Christ. 

Numbers 25:1

Numbers 25:1 says, And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.  In Shittim, the people of Israel stayed for awhile and began to be sexually involved with the women there, which was against God's command.  If we became too closely involved with the people who are not Christians it may lead us away from following God's commandments.  Matthew Henry says that since Balak could not defeat the people of Israel in a war, he chose to defeat them by subtlety.  Verse two adds, And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.  These women called on the men of Israel to engage in the sacrifices to their gods, and the men of Israel bowed down to these false gods.  After all that God had done for them, they were easily led away from Him.  As followers of Christ, we cannot let feelings for someone lead us away from Him, no matter how strong those feelings may be.  Verse three continues, And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.  The people of Israel began to worship Baalpeor, and Godcwas not pleased with them.  If we as Christians begin to allow other gods into our lives and begin to worship them more than God, we can be certain that God will not be pleased with us.  Verse four states, And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.  Though it is not specified, evidently a plague came upon Israel, and Moses was also commanded to kill the leaders of those who rebelled against God and hang their bodies up for all to see.  We cannot allow any idolatry into our lives as followers of Christ and nor expect God to be angry with us.  Verse five adds And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.  Moses instructed the judges of Israel to slay all the men who had committed idolatry with Baalpeor.  These men were on the edge of the Promised Land, and they turned away from God to worship a false god.  We as followers of Christ are on the edge of the Promised Land, Heaven, every day and we cannot allow ourselves to be pulled away from God to chase after false gods, which do not have to be actual idols.  These false gods can be anything that becomes more important to us than God.  Verse six says, And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  One of the men didn't just go out of the camp to become involved with one of the Midianite women, but even as the people of Israel were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation over the death of those who had committed idolatry, he boldly brought her into the camp of Israel.  Some people today boldly stand in defiance to God, even some that call themselves a part ot His people.  Verse seven adds, And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;  Phinehas, Eleazar's son, who was a part of the priesthood, saw what the man was doing and took a javelin in his hand.  We must, as a part of the priesthood of believers, be ready to root out all idolatry from our midst.  Verse eight continues, And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.  Phinehas went onto the tent of this man and ran his javelin through both the man of Israel andthewoman, killing them, and the plague was stopped.  If we have allowed idolatry into the church or even our life individually, we must kill it off in order to be faithful to God.  Verse nine concludes, And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.  This had been a widespread idolatry, since twenty-four thousand had died from the plague.  Idolatry is widespread today, though hopefully not in the church, God's people, and the penalty is not physical death, but everlasting separation from God spiritually. 

Numbers 24:15

Numbers 24:15 says, And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:  Balaam said what he was about to prophesy was what God had shown him.  His eyes were not opened physically but spiritually.  We may have our eyes upon physically and still be blind spiritually.  Verse sixteen adds, He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:  Balaam said he heard God’s voice and saw a vision while he was in a trance but still awake, or had his eyes physically open.  The Bible tells us that in the days before Jesus Christ came to die for our sins that He spoke to people in many ways, but now He speaks to us by our faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seventeen continues, I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.   Matthew Henry says this first referred to David,who did physically destroy Moab, but ultimately referred to Jesus Christ, Who destroys all sinful people.  I guess more accurately we should say Jesus allows them to destroy themselves spiritually by rejecting salvation that He has already provided fot them.  Balaam said he would see Him, which was definitely a reference to Jesus Christ, but not now and he would behold Him, but only from afar.  One day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, but for too many it will be from far away.  Verse eighteen states, And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.  Balaam said that Israel would also defeat Edom valiantly.  Jesus Christ has defeated all the enemies of God, not by war, but still valiantly on the cross.  Verse nineteen continues, Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.  The destruction of Edom was certain, both physically and spiritually for those who refused to obey God.  Being destroyed physically is not important as long as we are not destroyed spiritually by rejecting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty says, And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.  Balaam then said that the Amalekites, as strong as they were, would one day be utterly destroyed.  No matter how strong a nation may be, those that stand against God will ultimately be utterly destroyed, when Jesus Christ returns in victory if not before.  Verse twenty-one adds, And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.  Verse twenty-two continues, Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.  The Kenites had a strong natural defense where they were located, but it would not keep them from being destroyed.  No matter how strong and well fortified people may be today in their opposition to God, one day they will be utterly destroyed.  Verse twenty-three states, And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!  Balaam asked who should live when God destroyed all these nations.  We know the answer is those who put their faith in Jesus Christ, either as the Messiah Who was to come or the Messiah Who has come.  Verse twenty-four adds, And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.  Balaam concluded by speaking about the coming destruction of Asshur and Eber, which were also to perish forever.  All those who stand against God will one day be sent away into everlasting punishment.  Verse twenty-five continues, And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.  Balaam went back to his home, and so did Balak.  They had gotten together to curse Israel but went away with Balaam having blessed them instead.  Those who would curse God today will one day bless Him instead, but it will be too late for them to avoid being sent away to everlasting destruction. 

Numbeds 24:1

Numbers 24:1 says, And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.  Balaam was finally listening to God and would not go with Balik to attempt to curse Israel since he knew that it pleased God to bless them.  We may have tried to defy God, as Christians, but He will always be ready to show us the truth.  Verse two adds. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.  When Balaam looked at the people of Israel living in their tents, the Spirit of the LORD came on him.  As followers of Christ, the Spirit of the Lord is always with us, and as long as we are willing to listen to Him, He will open our eyes to God's truth.  Verse three states, And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:  Verse four adds, He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:  Matthew Henry says that Balaam was still trying to exalt himself more than God.   He was the one God was speaking through, so he should be humbled and not exalted.  When we are speaking for God because He has opened our eyes to His word, we must never attempt to exalt ourselves instead of exalting God.  Verse five says, How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!  Balaam then once again begins to proclaim God's blessing on Israel.  God's word is never going to change simply because we want it to say something else for our benefit.  The people of Israel were God's chosen people.  Verse six adds, As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.  Balaam said God had pronounced the people of Israel to be like trees planted by the river.  They were strong and unmoveable, as we as His people are today.   The world will never be more powerful than we are as long as we live by faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse seven continues, He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.  Balaam said that God had revealed to him that the kingdom of Israel would be a bountiful kingdom, planted and watered by God and more powerful than any other kingdom.  As we go into the world today as followers of Christ, we are still empowered by God, and as long as we are faithful to Him, no one can ever defeat us.  Verse eight says, God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.  Balaam said God had brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, and that He would give them victory over all their enemies.  God has brought us out of the bondage of sin today if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and He has already given us the power to defeat all our enemies.  Verse nine adds, He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.  Balaam concluded by saying that God had said that those who blessed Isreal would be blessed and those that cursed them would be cursed, and cursing them was what Balak wanted Balaam to do.  Verse ten states, And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.  Balak became angry with Balaam, and told him that he had brought Balaam there to curse Israel, but that instead he had altogether blessed them.  No matter what the world may want us to do as Christians, even if it will bring us fame and fortune, we must be obedient to God's word.  Verse eleven adds, Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.  Balak told Balaam that he had wanted to promote Balaam to a place of great honor, but that God had prevented him from doing so.  As a prophet of God, as long as Balaam remained true to Him, he was already in a place of grea honor.  As followers of Christ, no matter how much or how little we have of the material things of this world we are already in a place of great honor, and we should never try to change God's word, no matter what we may be offered to do so.  Verse twelve says, And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,  Verse thirteen adds, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?  Balaam asked Balak had he not told Balak’s messengers that no matter what he was promised, he could not go against God's word. Balaam said Balak could not say he was cheating him, since Balaam had warned him to start with that he could only prophesy what God told him to.  As Christians, that is all we can really do today.  Verse fourteen continues, And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.  Balaam told Balak that he was returning to his people, and told Balak to come and hear what would later happen to the people of Israel.  Matthew Henry says that Balaam was telling Balak that he would be shown the way to defeat the people of Israel one day, and that would be by getting them to turn away from God and to turn to idolatry.  We need to be careful that we do not let idolatry creep into our lives as followers of Christ.  As long as we stand firm by faith in God, we will never be defeated spiritually, which is all that really matters.