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Today, we begin the book of Numbers by reading the first two chapters. Why is it called “Numbers”? Honestly, when I was younger, the title intimidated me—I assumed it would be filled with endless genealogies like those in 1 Chronicles. But no, Numbers gets its name from the two censuses recorded in the book: one here at the beginning (chapter 1), as the Israelites set out on their journey, and another later (chapter 26), forty years later just before they enter the Promised Land.

One interesting observation is that the Israelite population of war-abled men remained nearly the same over those forty years. They began with 603,550 men and ended with slightly fewer—601,730. This is striking for us today because, in contrast, modern populations tend to grow, not decrease, over time. For example, in the U.S., our population has increased by more than a third in the past forty years. But Israel, despite God’s miraculous provision in the wilderness, experienced a slight decline. This decline could serve as a biblical reminder that sin and disobedience can stagnate or even reverse the growth that God desires for His people. Instead of thriving, an entire generation perished in the wilderness due to their unbelief (Numbers 14:29–34). It’s a sobering lesson that spiritual stagnation can have lasting consequences.

Beyond the censuses, Numbers is filled with significant theological foundations and rich historical narratives about Israel’s journey before entering the Promised Land. One aspect that has caught my attention over the past ten years as I’ve outlined my Bibles, is the setting apart of the tribe of Levi. Unlike the other tribes, they did not receive land as an inheritance. Instead, their inheritance was something far more significant—the Lord Himself. I find it noteworthy that when the Levites fulfilled their calling as caretakers of God’s Tabernacle, the Israelites flourished as a nation. And when the Israelites flourished, the Levites were well provided for. There was a symbiotic relationship between the Levite’s faithfulness and the people’s spiritual health.

In these first chapters, we see the Levites already set apart. While Moses is instructed to take a census of Israel’s war-abled men above the age of twenty, the Levites are excluded from this count because they were not to be used for war. Instead, their role was to care for the tabernacle—the dwelling place of God’s presence. But don’t for one minute think that the Levites were dealt a shorthand. All we need to do is look at the way the Israelite camp was structured to see that is not true. The twelve tribes were to camp around the Tent of Meeting, positioned on every side, with their faces turned toward the center. Meanwhile, the Levites camped between the people and the Tabernacle to serve as a protective buffer. God explains their purpose in Numbers 1:53:

“The Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.”

This arrangement reveals a profound truth: Israel wasn’t camped around the Tabernacle to protect it—they were there to worship and keep their focus on God. Their backs were toward the outside world, but their faces were turned toward His presence. The Levites, however, had a different role. They stood between the people and the Tabernacle—not to shield the sanctuary from external threats, but to shield the people from God’s wrath. They were every bit involved in a war—one that is more crucial than the physical battles that the rest were involved in. They were doing the vital work of Spiritual Warfare against the arch-enemy of humanity—Satan Himself.

Today, as followers of Christ, we are called to do the same—to keep our focus on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), setting our minds on things above rather than being consumed by the distractions and temptations of the world (Colossians 3:2).

But just as the Levites had a unique role in standing between the people and the Tabernacle, we too have a vital responsibility. As a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), we are called to intercede for others, standing in the gap through prayer and spiritual warfare. The Levites guarded the sacred space, ensuring that the people remained in right standing before God, and today, we fight a similar battle—not with physical weapons, but with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18). Our warfare is not against flesh and blood but against the forces of darkness that seek to turn hearts away from Christ. We are both worshipers and warriors, tasked with keeping our focus toward Jesus while actively engaging in prayer, intercession, and the advancement of His kingdom.

Takeaway: Where is your focus? Like Israel, we can be so easily distracted by the world around us that we forget to turn our faces toward God. The Israelites camped around His presence, and today, as His people, we must do the same—centering our lives on Christ, trusting Him as our Mediator, and allowing Him to lead us forward.