The book of numbers is the fourth book written by Moses. It includes the events that took place during the remaining 39 years of the Israelites’ 40-year journey to the promised land. It includes a census, laws about ritual purity, and details of the Israelites’ rebellions.
In Numbers 1-2, God told Moses to count the men in each tribe older than 20 who could go to war. These men summed up to six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men, not including the tribe of the Levites. God then went further to give them the marching order as they travelled. The tribes distributed to each side of the camp with the Levites in the middle to carry the tabernacle.
In Acts 5:12-40, the church experienced rapid growth, with more believers continuously joining under the leadership of the Apostles. This expansion was accompanied by significant supernatural events through the Holy spirit. However, the Apostles faced strong opposition from religious leaders, who imprisoned them. Despite this, God sent an angel to free the Apostles so they could continue their ministry. This miraculous escape astonished the religious leaders, who were shocked to find the Apostles preaching publicly in the name of Christ.
Following the advice of Gamaliel, the leaders decided not to kill the Apostles. Instead, they released them after giving stern warnings and administering beatings.
Reflection: God always backs those who carry out his assignment
Today’s reading
Numbers 1-2
Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
“Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male individually,
from twenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
Acts 5: 12-40
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,