In this episode we begin studying the book of Numbers. In this episode. Moses and Aaron are instructed to take a census. They are told to count all of the men from each tribe 20 years old and older.

The men counted were called fighting men. The tribe of Judah had the most fighting men, totaling 74,600.

The tribe with the least number of fighting men was the tribe of Manasseh, having a total of 32,200, men.

The tribe of Levi would not be numbered in this census because they were not fighting men but yet in a certain capacity, they were warriors.

They will be numbered in another chapter, having a total of 22, 000 men.

The Levites were given charge over everything that pertained to the house of God They were responsible for all the vessels and for putting up the tabernacle and taking it down and carrying the poles and all the tabernacle belongings when the people moved from place to place.

They were also responsible for bearing the ark of the testimony, that contained the Ten Commandments.

We note that the ark of the testimony, was a gold covered box that was shaped like a coffin. And represented the priceless sacrifice Christ would make to atone for the sins of His people.

Carrying the gold covered ark, that contained the ten commandments, pictured God’s mercy going before His people, as they travelled to the promise land.

They would inherit the promised land because of grace. This life saving grace would be given to them because of the atoning sacrifice of God's son.

His death would blot out the handwriting of the laws that were in the ark, the laws they continually broke.

Because of his death, these ordinances would be nailed to the cross.

Here’s the text:

Colossians 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Colossians 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

We note that Moses was told to count the fighting men according to their pedigree.

Another word for Pedigree is stock.

Websters says stock means the original progenitor, the race or line of a family, the progenitors of a family and their direct descendants, lineage.

Paul once boasted about his pedigree or stock in Philippians chapter 3 verse 5.

Here’s the text:

Philippians 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Paul told the members of the church that, since we have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God, we are of the stock or seed of God begotten by Christ.

Since we are descendants of Abraham we are heirs to the promise of eternal life.

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Peter also tells us the end result of being of the seed or the stock of Christ is the hope of the resurrection.

We can expect to receive our inheritance because Christ has reserved it for us. He promised that if we believe in Him, we will live and never die.

So Peter says, in 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 3 and 4.

1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,