Entourage!

March 24, 2025, Monday Message:

Numbers 1:44, 46 NLT: “These were the men registered by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, all listed according to their ancestral descent. The total number was 603,550.”

How many people love the Lord? And how many of them could fight if the need arose to defend the Israelites? It’s important for a leader to have an inventory of assets, so that leader can make good decisions when problems arise. The Lord commanded Moses to take this census, and the Israelites made it happen.

God wanting Moses to know the potential size of his army tells me that he expected trouble. The people already living in Canaan, modern-day Israel, were not going to roll over and willingly give up their territory. But the Israelites will emerge victorious because it was the Lord making this their destination. God was on their side, and if God is on your side, who can stand against you?

Resettlement of the people of Israel was no small endeavor. I always assume that the majority of the 600K men are married and each family has at least two children. That means 2.5M people followed Moses out of Egypt, a much larger Exodus than in the movie!

God sent his Son Jesus to forgive the world’s sins and give everyone who would call him “Lord” a fresh start. The first Christians were all converted Jews, looking to get closer to God. And you can’t get any closer than following God’s Son! Nowadays we can be born into a Christian family. But make no mistake, each of us must make our own personal decision to claim Jesus as Lord. Heaven celebrates when even one person repents and returns to God Almighty. Like the angels, we too should celebrate when someone comes to know Jesus as Lord!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship