SCRIPTURE:
“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. One man from each tribe, each of them the head of his family, is to help you.’”
Numbers 1:1-4
OBSERVATION:
The Word of our Lord God attests to the fact that although providential in His divine being; our God is the God of order and organization. Here in Numbers 1, the Lord instructs Moses to take a census, or accounting of the whole Israelite community in preparation of their continued service to the Lord. Note that the Lord also includes an accounting of whole families. I also notice that the census took place after the Israelites came out of Egypt, which in timing was an accounting subsequent to their exodus and all of the trials they encountered.
APPLICATION:
God’s instruction to Moses is a great lesson for me that taking account of myself, my family, my ministry, our church; for others, your work and where you work; is an integral step in our endeavors to fulfill our visions, goals, plans, assignments, and tasks. It is an important step for relationships, well-being, success in what we do; that we take account of who we are, who we are becoming in Christ, and what we have. As noted above, the timing of the census was important in that it was subsequent to their exodus from Egypt, enabling them to “count the costs” of their exodus prior to proceeding further. God often prompts us to take an account and count the costs of our actions, our calling and assignments, and our seasons we go through to prepare us for the success and the future. Visions and goals require planning, and planning is always more strategic and achievable if we know what our resources and assets are; as well as the risks and obstacles. Whether it be our current position, our accomplishments or failures, our resources, and finances; taking account in the interest of planning, doing, and work ahead, is an integral step in achieving our visions, goals and realizing God’s best for us. Better to – ready, aim, fire; rather than ready, fire, aim.
PRAYER:
Lord, I am thankful that you are the God of order and organization. I thank you for guiding me to take account of my family, ministry, your resources, and myself in planning to serve you best. May I be continually blessed with your gifting of order, organization, and planning; in serving you, and leading my family and those you place under my leadership.
