The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 22:5b,
"A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me [Balak]."
Here is Balak's (king of Moab) complaint about the nation of Israel as they camped by Moab. He sent his complaint to Balaam, a sorcerer, to fetch him to curse the Israelites. This he did as he was fearful of the size of Israel, and their recent defeat of the Amorites.
It is the description of the size of the Israelite nation that captures my attention this morning.
This book of Numbers is named so after a census was made of the fighting men at the beginning of their sojourn in the wilderness, and a second one at the end, forty years later. The nation began with 603,550 fighting men at the beginning, Numbers 1:45, and Numbers 26:51 tells us there were 601,730 at the end. These numbers indicate there must have been several million Israelites total Moses led through the wilderness for forty years!
The logistics for this horde was staggering! One source, http://www.messianicseder.com/logistics.html claims 4 million pounds of food was needed each day! That would be the equivalent of 3 freight trains a mile long each to bring what was needed every day. The same source calculates the need for 8 million pounds of wood each day for cooking and warmth. 11 million gallons of water would be needed each day for drinking and to wash a few dishes! Those are staggering numbers! The same source says the campground needed for this group would take 750 square miles (about half the state of Rhode Island).
Other sources can be cited and I'm sure there are differences in the logistics numbers required for Israel each day. I'm not certain of the veracity of these numbers I have mentioned but it does point to the amazing sojourn this was!
Because of what would be required to maintain the nation in the wilderness for forty years, it has led some to doubt the literal numbers mentioned in Numbers 1:45 and 26:51. Some move the decimal point three places to the left, that kind of thing.
I'm sticking with the numbers given. Here is just one reason: look at Balak's observation of the nation:
"Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites." Verse 3.
"This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." Verse 4.
"A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me." Verse 5b.
"A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land." Verse 11a.
And Balaam observed, "Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel?" Numbers 23:10.
"A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me [Balak]."
Here is Balak's (king of Moab) complaint about the nation of Israel as they camped by Moab. He sent his complaint to Balaam, a sorcerer, to fetch him to curse the Israelites. This he did as he was fearful of the size of Israel, and their recent defeat of the Amorites.
It is the description of the size of the Israelite nation that captures my attention this morning.
This book of Numbers is named so after a census was made of the fighting men at the beginning of their sojourn in the wilderness, and a second one at the end, forty years later. The nation began with 603,550 fighting men at the beginning, Numbers 1:45, and Numbers 26:51 tells us there were 601,730 at the end. These numbers indicate there must have been several million Israelites total Moses led through the wilderness for forty years!
The logistics for this horde was staggering! One source, http://www.messianicseder.com/logistics.html claims 4 million pounds of food was needed each day! That would be the equivalent of 3 freight trains a mile long each to bring what was needed every day. The same source calculates the need for 8 million pounds of wood each day for cooking and warmth. 11 million gallons of water would be needed each day for drinking and to wash a few dishes! Those are staggering numbers! The same source says the campground needed for this group would take 750 square miles (about half the state of Rhode Island).
Other sources can be cited and I'm sure there are differences in the logistics numbers required for Israel each day. I'm not certain of the veracity of these numbers I have mentioned but it does point to the amazing sojourn this was!
Because of what would be required to maintain the nation in the wilderness for forty years, it has led some to doubt the literal numbers mentioned in Numbers 1:45 and 26:51. Some move the decimal point three places to the left, that kind of thing.
I'm sticking with the numbers given. Here is just one reason: look at Balak's observation of the nation:
"Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites." Verse 3.
"This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." Verse 4.
"A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me." Verse 5b.
"A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land." Verse 11a.
And Balaam observed, "Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even a fourth of Israel?" Numbers 23:10.
It is a challenge for me to wrap my mind around some of these things. What God has done is simply stunning!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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