These days everyone seems to be talking about numbers. The number of days in quarantine, the number of people tested for Covid-19, the number of deaths due to Covid-19, the number of days school has been out and many more surrounding the 2020 pandemic!

I want to talk about numbers too. Lets start with in less than 2 days (April 19) I will be here on this planet for 18, 628 days and I will have been married (August 9) for 8, 401 days! Over 12,000 days ago I graduated high school and I have been driving for over 12, 750 days! Hmm, other pertinent numbers from my life; over 9700 days ago I gave my life to Christ and I have been an Executive Pastor, Elder and servant for my church for a very short 3,288 days. One more just for fun – I have been a bowler for over 1,290,038,400 seconds!

Yet, no matter how you look at it: a year still is 365 days and a week has 168 hours in it and we get to live each day, one day at a time. Amazing isn’t it!? One moment you are born and the next moment all of those days and hours begin to add up and the next thing you realize why you are so tired at night; being alive for over 447,000 hours is a lot of hours! But then again, it seems like a lot, but these past 50 years of life also feel like they have flown by!

Another set of “numbers” I would like to take a quick peak at is actually found in the bible: the book of Numbers. It is found in the Old Testament right after Leviticus and right before Deuteronomy.  The book of Numbers has 36 chapters (it is full of history and lessons to learn from and apply to current day) and the purpose of the book of Numbers is to tell about how Israel prepared to enter the promise land, but sinned and was punished. It describes Moses taking two population censuses, hence the name Numbers.

These are the highlights of Numbers: (Credit to Chuck Swindoll)

1. The Lord directed the message of Numbers toward the younger generation, children of the former slaves who escaped through the Red Sea. Except for Joshua, Caleb, and Moses, the older generation—everyone twenty years old or older at the time of the first census—died before the completion of Numbers, due to their disobedience and disbelief (Numbers 14:22–30). Moses completed the book before his death (Deuteronomy 31:24).
2. As a history of the nation not yet established in the land promised them long ago, this book unveils significant events sometimes referenced later in Scripture. Joshua and Caleb alone among the twelve spies encouraged Israel to take possession of the land (Numbers 13–14; Joshua 14:7); Moses struck a rock and water spouted forth (Numbers 20:11; Psalm 106:32); Moses lifted up a bronze serpent on a pole so that believing Israelites might be healed of their snake bites (Numbers 21:6–9; John 3:14); and Balaam was rebuked by his donkey (Numbers 22:21–34; Revelation 2:14).
3. In this book, the people of Israel tested God’s patience, and He in turn tested their endurance and faithfulness. Though the people failed many times, God showed His own faithfulness by His constant presence leading the way: through a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

   More than just a history lesson, the book of Numbers reveals how God reminded Israel that He does not tolerate rebellion, complaining, and disbelief without invoking consequences. He taught His people how to walk with Him—not just with their feet through the wilderness but with their mouths in worship, hands in service, and lives as witnesses to the surrounding nations. He was their God, they were His people, and He expected them to act like it.

Do you see any resemblance between the grumbling, rebellious AMERICA of today and the Israelites then? How can you avoid following their example? With humility and sincerity, pray for a soft heart, open to God’s guiding hand.

Thanks for stopping by the fire, 

Pastor Dennis