Numbers 1: 2: "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male individually,...." Previously, the Lord in Exodus 30: 11-16 had commanded a census be taken for the purpose of determining money to be given for the service of the tabernacle. This census was different. The purpose of this census was to form a roster to determine how many fighting men were available for the invasion of the land promised to Abraham (Genesis 12: 1-3). Do you think the LORD knew exactly how many men were available? The answer is "yes!" Then, why take the census? The census was for the children of Israel. While they knew the battle would be won by the LORD, the men still had to fight. This passage blends together the concepts of the Sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. Both are truths. God is Sovereign. However, that Sovereignty does not give man an option to be lazy or fatalistic. God wants us to prepare for the tasks that lie ahead of us. We are not to sit in a corner and pray without putting actions to the prayers. The children of Israel had to take a census. They had to prepare for war. However, the results were in the hands of the LORD. Never allow the Sovereignty of God to become a crutch for you to make you lazy. His Sovereignty encourages me to work harder because I know the end result will be His perfect plan.
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