Ⅰ
The emphasis of Numbers is how the Israelites, who had been redeemed, received revelation, and been trained by God, were formed into an army to protect God's testimony and fight for His move on earth—1:2-3, 19-20:
Ａ
Since the earth created by God was ruined by Satan, God needs to gain a group of people to be formed into an army for His move on earth—v. 3.
Ｂ
Numbers shows how God formed His redeemed people into an army to surround and protect His testimony—2:1-2, 32, 34:
１
In Numbers, particularly in the first four chapters, the Israelites were formed into an army according to God's arrangement.
２
In order for the children of Israel to be formed into an army, they needed to be numbered; only after being numbered could the Israelites be formed into an army—1:2-3, 19-20.
Ⅱ
In order”to go forth for military service,” an Israelite male needed to be at least twenty years old; this is related to growth and maturity—v. 3:
Ａ
There were approximately two million Israelites, but only 603,550 were twenty years old and upward and were able to go forth for military service—vv. 45-46.
Ｂ
Even though there are a great many believers on earth, only a small number among them are mature in life to the extent that they are able to fight for God's testimony—Eph. 4:12, 15-16; 6:10-12.
Ｃ
Numbers mentions the age for those enlisting in the army, which was twenty years old and upward, yet this book does not mention the age for retirement:
１
God's army was strong, just as Caleb was able to fight and was as strong before God in his eighties as he was in his forties—Josh. 14:6, 10-11.
２
This signifies that we must have both life and maturity in life in order to be numbered by God.
Ｄ
According to Numbers, neither children nor women were numbered:
１
Children signify immaturity, and women signify weakness.
２
That only males who were twenty years old and upward were able to engage in warfare signifies that among the believers, only those who are mature in life and strong are able to fight in spiritual warfare.
Ｅ
Those who were numbered needed to be confirmed by Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the twelve tribes—1:4, 16-18:
１
Moses signifies Christ as the Head of the Body who executes His authority, Aaron signifies Christ as the High Priest who exercises His priesthood, and the leaders of the twelve tribes signify the elders and leading ones in the church—Col. 1:18; Heb. 8:1; Acts 14:23:
ａ
This indicates that the numbering of God's people is based on life and maturity in life and is confirmed by spiritual authority.
ｂ
Life, maturity, and the confirmation of spiritual authority are required for the formation of God's army.
２
In order to be numbered, the children of Israel were required to be in the fellowship of the life of their fathers' households and had to grow in life unto maturity, which is signified by the age of twenty—Num. 1:1-16.
Morning Nourishment
Num. 1:3 From twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go forth for military service in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their companies.Eph. 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ.
The numbering of the Israelites is based on three basic matters: genealogy, which is related to life; age, which is related to maturity; and the confirmation by Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the twelve tribes. Today the formation of God's people into an army is a matter of coordination, which is based on three matters: life, maturity, and confirmation. These three matters must be fulfilled in order for God's people to be properly formed, which is to be properly coordinated. (CWWL, 1960, vol. 1,”Synopsis of Numbers,” p. 71)
Today's Reading
A person's genealogy is related to his life, whereas his age is related to his growth and maturity. If an Israelite was not mature, even though he was a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he could not be numbered. Those who were one month old and upward were considered Israelites; this is related to life. However, to be formed into an army, an Israelite needed to be at least twenty years old; this is related to growth and maturity. Although there were about two million Israelites at the time of Numbers, only six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty were twenty years old and upward and were able to go forth for military service (Num. 1:45-46). This is also true in the church today. Even though there are many believers on earth, only a small number among them are mature in life to the extent that they are able to fight for God's testimony. In other words, not all the saved and baptized saints are mature enough to be able to fight for God's testimony.Concerning the matter of warfare, Numbers mentions the age for those enlisting in the army, which was twenty years old and upward; yet this book does not mention the age for retirement. Caleb fought when he was eighty years old (Josh. 14:6, 10-11), and Moses led the children of Israel in the wilderness until he was one hundred twenty years old. This signifies that those who are mature in life and are able to fight for God's testimony are not, and should not be, limited by age.
God's army was strong, just as Caleb was able to fight and was as strong before God in his eighties as he was in his forties (vv. 7, 10-11). This signifies that we must have both life and maturity in life in order to be numbered by God. According to Numbers, neither children nor women were numbered. Children signify immaturity, and women signify weakness. In principle, the same is true of the church. Although some believers may have been saved for a long period of time, they are still weak and not sufficiently strong in the Lord. Only males who were twenty years old and upward were able to engage in warfare; this signifies that among the believers, only those who are mature in life and strong are able to fight in spiritual warfare.
Those who were numbered needed to be confirmed by Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the twelve tribes….Here Moses signifies Christ as the Head of the Body who executes His authority. Aaron signifies Christ as the High Priest who exercises His priesthood. The Lord is not only the Head with authority but also the Priest coming to care for, examine, and confirm God's people. Moreover, the leaders of the twelve tribes signify the elders and leading ones in the church. This indicates that the numbering of God's people is based on life and maturity in life and is confirmed by spiritual authority.
Today in the church there is the headship and priesthood of Christ. When a church is in a normal condition, the elders take the lead in the church and learn to live before God to confirm and judge whether people have life and are sufficiently mature and strong. (CWWL, 1960, vol. 1,”Synopsis of Numbers,” pp. 68-69)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1960, vol. 1,”Synopsis of Numbers,” ch. 2; Life-study of Numbers, msgs. 2-3