You Have A Role To Play
The LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army."
Numbers 1:1-3
Numbers 1:1-3
God had liberated His children from the bondage of Egypt. All the Israelites basically had to do was to "stand still and see the deliverance of the LORD" as God worked miracle after miracle to bring Egypt to its knees. But now, it was time to move on to the business of marching on to possess the Promised Land.
It is interesting that the first thing God did before they even set out was to organize the Israelites into a fighting force. God asked Moses to take a census and record the names of all the men in Israel. Those who were twenty years or older and had the ability were to be drafted into the national army.
This is rather significant. It throws light on the fact that God was going to involve every capable person in the conquest of the Promised Land. Every capable man had a role to play. God was about to establish His Kingdom amidst the pagan nations of the earth. As Israel's Sovereign King, Yahweh would march ahead of the army in every endeavor. However, every capable man was to be a part of the fighting force. The Promised Land was not going to be dropped into their laps. They were to "fight" for it. The LORD carefully organized His people for the task ahead.
There is a lesson to be learned from this: God organized them to fight the opposing forces. Sometimes, the promises of God attract opposition from the enemy so we have to fight until they materialize. We plan and fight!
The temptation to relax and not consciously plan to organize and "fight" for the promises of God can be a real issue. We can claim the promises and yet do nothing practically to "fight" and possess it. If God organized Israel into a "Fighting Force," then you and I must do likewise to attain our "Promised Land." We have a role to play. We must carefully organize to "fight" being fully mindful that God is our leader in the battle. We fight under His banner and in His strength.
We have a role to play! We must be part of God's Fighting Force.
It is interesting that the first thing God did before they even set out was to organize the Israelites into a fighting force. God asked Moses to take a census and record the names of all the men in Israel. Those who were twenty years or older and had the ability were to be drafted into the national army.
This is rather significant. It throws light on the fact that God was going to involve every capable person in the conquest of the Promised Land. Every capable man had a role to play. God was about to establish His Kingdom amidst the pagan nations of the earth. As Israel's Sovereign King, Yahweh would march ahead of the army in every endeavor. However, every capable man was to be a part of the fighting force. The Promised Land was not going to be dropped into their laps. They were to "fight" for it. The LORD carefully organized His people for the task ahead.
There is a lesson to be learned from this: God organized them to fight the opposing forces. Sometimes, the promises of God attract opposition from the enemy so we have to fight until they materialize. We plan and fight!
The temptation to relax and not consciously plan to organize and "fight" for the promises of God can be a real issue. We can claim the promises and yet do nothing practically to "fight" and possess it. If God organized Israel into a "Fighting Force," then you and I must do likewise to attain our "Promised Land." We have a role to play. We must carefully organize to "fight" being fully mindful that God is our leader in the battle. We fight under His banner and in His strength.
We have a role to play! We must be part of God's Fighting Force.
Prayer: Lord, please help me to recognize the need to organize and execute whatever battle plans you have for the attainment of my "Promised Land." Amen.