Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Numbers 26-27.
God instructs Moses to conduct another census. In this census, we learn that Israel's numbers have changed very little from the time they left Egypt in the Exodus (contrary to my statement yesterday which I corrected).
It is also noteworthy that not one of the original Israelites remains alive except Moses (who will soon die), Joshua, and Caleb. Remember that the whole reason for the wandering was Israel's sin, and God's vow that none of those alive would live to see the Promised Land.
This census is also important because they will use it to determine how the land in Canaan is to be divided amongst the twelve tribes. First by lot (God's sovereign choosing), and then by the size of the individual tribes.
We also see that God has chosen Joshua to lead his people upon the death of Moses. It is interesting to see that God's communication will be different for Joshua as he will receive "some" of Moses' authority. Instead, Joshua is to stand before Eleazar the priest who will inquire before God on his behalf, and also we see that the Urim and Thummim (some sort of holy lot device kept in the breastplate of the priest) will have a large role in the life of Israel.
Although we are standing near the banks of the Jordan, we still have a ways to go before we see Joshua leading the people across. The book of Deuteronomy stands before us, which is a collection of Moses' reminders/sermons to the people before they enter Canaan.
These last 40 years, that God has chosen to reveal to us, contain a great many things for us to understand. It is here that we can begin to understand the role that Messiah will play in God's promise of a final Promised Land.
Like the Israelites of old, we are sojourners in a foreign land, and await our call to enter in.
This is frightening to our natural minds, requires faith to believe, and is the Christian's great hope.
Come Messiah, come!
