Numbers - Chapter 1

We have read through the first three books of the Old Testament and have met with Jesus in every chapter.  We now move to the book of Numbers.  This book gets its name from the two censuses carried out, recorded in this chapter and in chapter 26.

In the first Census there are just over 600,000 men counted - these are the men aged over 20 who are able to serve in the army (those in the tribe of Levi are not included).  This is also a list of the men who are going to die in the desert and not enter the promised land.

The numbers are recorded in this book - but Jesus says that the individual names of each of his people are also recorded in a book.  In Revelation 3 Jesus says this to the church in Sardis:

"You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."