DAILY DEVOTIONS
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"Honoring God in the Morning"
EACH GENERATION: A NEW BEGINNING
READING FROM:
Numbers 26:1-65
KEY VERSE:
“For the Lord had said of them, ‘They shall surely die in the wilderness.’ So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.” –Numbers 26:65
We have come to a fresh chapter in the life of this new nation Israel. God is preparing the second generation to step out in faith and make the land God promised them their own. The generation before them had been given the same opportunity, but they turned their backs to it and yielded to evil hearts of unbelief.
Each subsequent generation encounters parallels to the lessons of the events recorded here. They should be heeded. Each generation must take personal responsibility for its relationship to the life and blessings of the Kingdom of God. There are no grandchildren in God’s kingdom, only children. The failure of a former generation to live worthy of the Kingdom of God and its potential is no excuse for the failure of the current generation to do so.
As we read here, the former generation had taken a census to prepare for the battle necessary to fulfill their calling. Yet they denied that calling to go in and take the Promised Land as their own. Here we see that the second generation is also called upon to take a census to do what the former generation did not do.
The bottom line is, regardless of the condition of the former generation, each successive generation must take full responsibility for its own relationship to its call to take the “Promised Land.” Today we are not called to take a physical Land of Promise. Instead we are called to establish the Kingdom of God as our own and appropriate its spiritual blessings for our current generation. We must reach our generation for Christ. The next generation can’t reach the preceding generation because the people who came before them are in the grave. We must bring our children to the Promised Land of God’s Kingdom. A little Sunday school and a few pep talks are not enough. The Kingdom of Darkness is not passive. Satan is passionate about enveloping each new generation with bondage. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy a world of people that God is calling into His Kingdom of Light.
Look around you. What do you see? Pray about whatever is less than God’s best. Pray about your part in bringing faith in God to that place. The promises of God are always new and ready to be given to each person, family, and nation of each generation. Take the Promised Land. Do not let fear and unbelief rob you of God’s exceedingly great and precious promises. They are our weapons to redeem humanity from the father of lies (2 Peter 1:4).
EACH GENERATION: A NEW BEGINNING
READING FROM:
Numbers 26:1-65
KEY VERSE:
“For the Lord had said of them, ‘They shall surely die in the wilderness.’ So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.” –Numbers 26:65
We have come to a fresh chapter in the life of this new nation Israel. God is preparing the second generation to step out in faith and make the land God promised them their own. The generation before them had been given the same opportunity, but they turned their backs to it and yielded to evil hearts of unbelief.
Each subsequent generation encounters parallels to the lessons of the events recorded here. They should be heeded. Each generation must take personal responsibility for its relationship to the life and blessings of the Kingdom of God. There are no grandchildren in God’s kingdom, only children. The failure of a former generation to live worthy of the Kingdom of God and its potential is no excuse for the failure of the current generation to do so.
As we read here, the former generation had taken a census to prepare for the battle necessary to fulfill their calling. Yet they denied that calling to go in and take the Promised Land as their own. Here we see that the second generation is also called upon to take a census to do what the former generation did not do.
The bottom line is, regardless of the condition of the former generation, each successive generation must take full responsibility for its own relationship to its call to take the “Promised Land.” Today we are not called to take a physical Land of Promise. Instead we are called to establish the Kingdom of God as our own and appropriate its spiritual blessings for our current generation. We must reach our generation for Christ. The next generation can’t reach the preceding generation because the people who came before them are in the grave. We must bring our children to the Promised Land of God’s Kingdom. A little Sunday school and a few pep talks are not enough. The Kingdom of Darkness is not passive. Satan is passionate about enveloping each new generation with bondage. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy a world of people that God is calling into His Kingdom of Light.
Look around you. What do you see? Pray about whatever is less than God’s best. Pray about your part in bringing faith in God to that place. The promises of God are always new and ready to be given to each person, family, and nation of each generation. Take the Promised Land. Do not let fear and unbelief rob you of God’s exceedingly great and precious promises. They are our weapons to redeem humanity from the father of lies (2 Peter 1:4).
BIBLE READING
NUMBERS 26:1-65
THE SECOND CENSUS OF ISRAEL
1 And it came to pass, after the plague, that the Lord spoke to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying: 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel from twenty years old and above, by their fathers’ houses, all who are able to go to war in Israel.” 3 So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across fromJericho, saying: 4 “Take a census of the people from twenty years old and above, just as the Lord commanded Moses and the children of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt.”
5 Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. The children of Reuben were: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites; 6 of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 7 These are the families of the Reubenites: those who were numbered of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty. 8 And the son of Pallu wasEliab. 9 The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, representatives of the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord; 10 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; and they became a sign. 11 Nevertheless the children of Korah did not die.
12 The sons of Simeon according to their families were: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites; 13 of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.14 These are the families of the Simeonites: twenty-two thousand two hundred.
15 The sons of Gad according to their families were: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites;of Shuni, the family of the Shunites; 16 of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites; 17 of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites. 18 These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered of them: forty thousand five hundred.
19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 And the sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Parzites; of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.21 And the sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. 22 These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them: seventy-six thousand five hundred.
23 The sons of Issachar according to their families were: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puah, the family of the Punites; 24 of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25 These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them: sixty-four thousand three hundred.
26 The sons of Zebulun according to their families were: of Sered, the family of the Sardites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. 27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them: sixty thousand five hundred.
28 The sons of Joseph according to their families, by Manasseh and Ephraim, were: 29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir begot Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead: ofJeezer, the family of the Jeezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites; 31 of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; 32 of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 33 Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.
35 These are the sons of Ephraim according to their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites; of Becher, the family of the Bachrites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. 36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them: thirty-two thousand five hundred.
37 These are the sons of Joseph according to their families.
38 The sons of Benjamin according to their families were: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; 39 of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. 40 And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. 41 These are the sons of Benjamin according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.
42 These are the sons of Dan according to their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan according to their families. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.
44 The sons of Asher according to their families were: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites; of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites. 45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. 46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah. 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them: fifty-three thousand four hundred.
48 The sons of Naphtali according to their families were: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites; 49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. 50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.
51 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel: six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.
52 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 53 “To these the land shall be divided as an inheritance, according to the number of names. 54 To a large tribe you shall give a larger inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a smaller inheritance. Each shall be given its inheritance according to those who were numbered of them. 55 But the land shall be divided by lot; they shall inherit according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. 56 According to the lot their inheritance shall be divided between the larger and the smaller.”
57 And these are those who were numbered of the Levites according to their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites. 58 These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, and the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begot Amram. 59 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam. 60 To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.61 And Nadab and Abihu died when they offered profane fire before the Lord.
62 Now those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and above; for they were not numbered among the other children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the children of Israel.
63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. 64 But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the Lord had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
1 And it came to pass, after the plague, that the Lord spoke to Moses and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying: 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel from twenty years old and above, by their fathers’ houses, all who are able to go to war in Israel.” 3 So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across fromJericho, saying: 4 “Take a census of the people from twenty years old and above, just as the Lord commanded Moses and the children of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt.”
5 Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. The children of Reuben were: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites; 6 of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 7 These are the families of the Reubenites: those who were numbered of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred and thirty. 8 And the son of Pallu wasEliab. 9 The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, representatives of the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord; 10 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; and they became a sign. 11 Nevertheless the children of Korah did not die.
12 The sons of Simeon according to their families were: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites; 13 of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.14 These are the families of the Simeonites: twenty-two thousand two hundred.
15 The sons of Gad according to their families were: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites;of Shuni, the family of the Shunites; 16 of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites; 17 of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites. 18 These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered of them: forty thousand five hundred.
19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 And the sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Parzites; of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.21 And the sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. 22 These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them: seventy-six thousand five hundred.
23 The sons of Issachar according to their families were: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puah, the family of the Punites; 24 of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25 These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them: sixty-four thousand three hundred.
26 The sons of Zebulun according to their families were: of Sered, the family of the Sardites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. 27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them: sixty thousand five hundred.
28 The sons of Joseph according to their families, by Manasseh and Ephraim, were: 29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir begot Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead: ofJeezer, the family of the Jeezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites; 31 of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; 32 of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 33 Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.
35 These are the sons of Ephraim according to their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites; of Becher, the family of the Bachrites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. 36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them: thirty-two thousand five hundred.
37 These are the sons of Joseph according to their families.
38 The sons of Benjamin according to their families were: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites; 39 of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. 40 And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. 41 These are the sons of Benjamin according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.
42 These are the sons of Dan according to their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan according to their families. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.
44 The sons of Asher according to their families were: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites; of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites. 45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. 46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah. 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them: fifty-three thousand four hundred.
48 The sons of Naphtali according to their families were: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites; 49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. 50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.
51 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel: six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty.
52 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 53 “To these the land shall be divided as an inheritance, according to the number of names. 54 To a large tribe you shall give a larger inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a smaller inheritance. Each shall be given its inheritance according to those who were numbered of them. 55 But the land shall be divided by lot; they shall inherit according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. 56 According to the lot their inheritance shall be divided between the larger and the smaller.”
57 And these are those who were numbered of the Levites according to their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites. 58 These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, and the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begot Amram. 59 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam. 60 To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.61 And Nadab and Abihu died when they offered profane fire before the Lord.
62 Now those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and above; for they were not numbered among the other children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the children of Israel.
63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. 64 But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the Lord had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
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VERSE-BY-VERSE STUDY NOTES
NUMBERS 26
THE SECOND CENSUS OF ISRAEL (VERSES 1-65)
v. 2 A Census - This is the second census of the nation since they began their exodus from Egypt. This census is prepared the men of Israel for their call to take the land promised by God. The first census was about 40 years prior to this (Num. 1:2).
v. 5-51 - Since the children of Israel left Egypt approximately 40 years ago, everyone who was more than 20 years old at the time of their departure had died off except Joshua and Caleb (26:65). It was time to prepare this new generation to take the Promised Land that their fathers had in unbelief refused to do.
Of the twelve tribes
- Five suffered population loss, while seven gained men.
- Half of the tribes had gains or losses of 15% or less
- Simeon lost 63% of their population
- Manasseh gained 64%
v. 55 But the Land Shall be Divided by Lot - The Promise Land would be divided up proportionally with the larger tribes receiving larger areas of land. However, the quality of the land was to be determined by a lottery, which depended on God’s providence.
v. 57 Numbered of the Levites> - The Levites were counted in a different way than the other tribes. The other tribes were counted by the males old enough to go to war (26:2). The Levites were counted by the number of males over one month old (26:62).
No Inheritance - The Levites were to receive no land and therefore were not to be counted into the lottery. Their inheritance was to be the Lord Himself according to Numbers 18:20.
v. 64 Not a Man of Those - Simply put, no one was left alive from the first census except Joshua and Caleb. These two men were allowed to go into the Promised Land because they were the only ones of their generation that faithfully believed God would give them the Promised Land (14:30). Moses and Aaron were not allowed to go into the Promised Land because they dishonored God in an angry response against the people at Meribah (20:12).
v. 2 A Census - This is the second census of the nation since they began their exodus from Egypt. This census is prepared the men of Israel for their call to take the land promised by God. The first census was about 40 years prior to this (Num. 1:2).
v. 5-51 - Since the children of Israel left Egypt approximately 40 years ago, everyone who was more than 20 years old at the time of their departure had died off except Joshua and Caleb (26:65). It was time to prepare this new generation to take the Promised Land that their fathers had in unbelief refused to do.
Of the twelve tribes
- Five suffered population loss, while seven gained men.
- Half of the tribes had gains or losses of 15% or less
- Simeon lost 63% of their population
- Manasseh gained 64%
v. 55 But the Land Shall be Divided by Lot - The Promise Land would be divided up proportionally with the larger tribes receiving larger areas of land. However, the quality of the land was to be determined by a lottery, which depended on God’s providence.
v. 57 Numbered of the Levites> - The Levites were counted in a different way than the other tribes. The other tribes were counted by the males old enough to go to war (26:2). The Levites were counted by the number of males over one month old (26:62).
No Inheritance - The Levites were to receive no land and therefore were not to be counted into the lottery. Their inheritance was to be the Lord Himself according to Numbers 18:20.
v. 64 Not a Man of Those - Simply put, no one was left alive from the first census except Joshua and Caleb. These two men were allowed to go into the Promised Land because they were the only ones of their generation that faithfully believed God would give them the Promised Land (14:30). Moses and Aaron were not allowed to go into the Promised Land because they dishonored God in an angry response against the people at Meribah (20:12).
