Numbers 1:34-39: a reflection

34Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 35those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty-two thousand two hundred. 36Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 37those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty-five thousand four hundred. 38Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: 39those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Dan, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

In the census of Israel, each tribe is counted, all those from twenty years old and upward who were able to go out to war, able and ready for service. The counting was not idle; it numbered those who could be counted on, who were available and ready to serve when needed. Each one counted was reckoned as one who could be relied upon for the task ahead, ready and available for the service to which the people might be called. To be counted was to be counted on, numbered among those ready to serve.

Notice what the counting reckoned: those ready and available for service. The census numbered not merely the population, but those able and ready to go out, to serve when needed. Each one counted was reckoned as available, ready to be called upon, counted on for the task. It was a counting of those who could be relied upon, who stood ready to serve. To be among those counted was to be among those available and ready, reckoned as one who could be counted on when the need came.

That is worth taking to heart, for God counts on his people to be ready and available for his service. We are not merely to be part of God's people in name, but to be available and ready for his service, those who can be counted on when there is a task to do. God has service for his people, and looks for those who are ready and available, who can be counted on. Be one whom God can count on, ready and available for his service, rather than merely present in name; let yourself be counted among those ready to serve when there is need. Do not be one who is present but unavailable, unwilling to be counted on; make yourself available and ready for God's service, as the census numbered those able and ready to go out, so that you may be among those God can count on for the tasks he has, ready and available to serve when the need comes.

Lord, in the census of Israel, each tribe is counted, all those from twenty years old and upward who were able to go out to war, able and ready for service. The counting was not idle; it numbered those who could be counted on, who were available and ready to serve when needed. Each one counted was reckoned as one who could be relied upon for the task ahead. To be counted was to be counted on. Show me what the counting reckoned: those ready and available for service. The census numbered not merely the population, but those able and ready to go out, to serve when needed. Each one counted was reckoned as available, ready to be called upon. To be among those counted was to be among those ready to serve. Take that to my heart, for you count on your people to be ready and available for your service. I am not merely to be part of your people in name, but to be available and ready for your service, one who can be counted on when there is a task to do. You have service for your people, and look for those who are ready and available. Help me be one whom you can count on, ready and available for your service, Lord, rather than merely present in name; let me be counted among those ready to serve when there is need. Keep me from being one who is present but unavailable; help me make myself available and ready for your service.