Fri.’s Devo - Counting the Warriors -

Read: Numbers 26:1-51; Luke 2:36-52; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 11:15 Twenty-four thousand people died in the plague caused by their rebellion. They were about to enter the promised land where they would have to fight for their land so God called a census of all the men of fighting age. If you compare it to the list in Numbers 2 you can see the tribes that lost people in the times of their rebellions and the ones that grew. *** The ones that lost in number were the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim, and Naphtali. Interestingly, Reuben, Simeon and Gad all marched together and camped together. The tribes that grew in number were Judah, Isssachar, Zebulun, Manasseh, Dan and Asher. The total number of warriors when they began their journey was 603,550. Now it was 601,730. *** God had said that all of the original people would have to die except Joshua and Caleb. This was the new generation. *** A new thing was happening in Luke also. A prophetess named Anna heard what Simeon said to Mary and Joseph and was so excited because she too had been waiting for God to rescue Israel. She told all her friends who had been waiting also. *** Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth to raise Jesus in wisdom and in God’s favor. *** Every year, they traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. When Jesus turned 12 it was his bar mitzvah where he would return to work in his father’s business. Jesus knew who his father was so he stayed in the Temple confounding the teachers of the law with his insight and knowledge. *** When the Passover celebration came to an end, Mary and Joseph returned home thinking Jesus was with their relatives and friends. After the third day, they realized they had not seen him and no one else had either. They went back to Jerusalem and finally found him in the Temple. When they acted surprised to find him there, he said, “didn’t you know I would be about my Father’s business.” They were amazed but brought him home and he became a mason along with Joseph. *** It says again that Jesus grew in wisdom snd in stature and in favor with God and all the people. Lord, may we be about your business today. May we be counted among your warriors.