The Second Census
“1 After the plague, the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, 2 ‘Take a census of the entire Israelite community by their ancestral houses of those 20 years old or more who can serve in Israel’s army.’
3 So Moses and Eleazar the priest said to them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, 4 ‘Take a census of those 20 years old or more, as the Lord had commanded Moses and the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt.'”
Numbers 26:1-4
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After the people were counted the first time, God proceeded to lead them to the Promised Land & they rebelled because of their fear. They did not trust God to keep His promises and they refused to take what He was giving them with an open hand. And because of that rebellion, 40 years were spent wandering in the wilderness until the last of those who rebelled had died. During that time, they experienced defeats, plagues, poisonous snakes and many other calamities that came as a result of their disobedience.

Their rebellion cost them dearly, but even in their rebellion God was watching out for them. Some tribes decreased in numbers from the first count to the sceond, but others increased! And when it was all said and done, two censuses and 40 years in between, the Israelites population had only decreased by about 1800 fighting men. They would go into the land with a few less men to fight, but they would also do so with an important lesson learned & a greater trust in God. It would still be difficult, but this new generation had been raised up with Him in their midst, in the center of their community, and because of that relationship & familiarity, they would walk through the parted waters of the Jordan with Joshua, march around Jericho and begin the reclamation of the Promised Land as a very different people.

As Christians, we also have consequences for our actions, just like anyone else does. We are not exempt from trouble, especially if we are the ones who made it for ourselves. And so we find that God preserves us in spite of our mistakes. His grace covers us, even when we continue to not deserve it. He is wonderful that way, and His judgment is perfect just as His love & mercy are perfect. We have not been given an allowance to sin and do as the flesh pleases, but we have been given hope beyond our mistakes, and an assurance that God will carry us to victory in Christ as long as we continue to keep Him first. Our baptism into Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is our part in the covenant, and we know God will keep His part every day, as we enter the fields of harvest, answering the call to GoLove as we have been loved, spreading the Gospel that we hold dear.