“Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ houses, all in Israel who are able to go to war.” (Numbers 26:2, ESV)
After the plague the Lord asks Moses to take a census to number the people. This is the second census. The first came in the second month in the second year after they came out of Egypt (Numbers 1:2). The census marks a strategic point in the history of Israel as they were about to embark on the conquest of Canaan.
How does this apply to us? I have had a fear of counting the numbers of people in the church. This is from the incident where David numbered the people and subsequently brought the chastisement of the Lord upon the nation (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21). So why was this instance different from David’s census? While the study of the accounts of David’s census does not reveal the specific reasons that it was wrong, there are two clear differences between his census and that of Moses.
First, the Lord commanded Moses to take the census. In David’s case we see no clear command from the Lord, but rather the Lord providentially permitted Satan to incite David to take the census (compare 2 Samuel 24:1 with 1 Chronicles 21:1).
Second, Moses’ census was tied directly to the Lord’s sovereign program for the conquest of Canaan. The Lord wanted Israel to know the size of the tribes for a fair distribution of their inheritance in the Promised Land (26:52-53). The Lord also wanted Israel to know that all the generation that had rebelled against going into the Land the first time had died (26:64-65). The census joined the nation with the sovereign program of the Lord and revealed the immutable nature of God in the sovereign plans for His chosen people. David’s decision did not demonstrate a similar intent.
What can we conclude from this as it pertains to the church? While we do not know the specifics of David’s error, we can conclude that the intent of his census was not to join God in His sovereign program. Moses’ census, on the other hand, directly linked to God’s sovereign program. It seems that the issue is one of intent.
Whenever I meet with other churchgoers, they will inevitably ask me, as a pastor, “How many people are in your church?” I often hear pastors at conferences talking about how many people they have attending. What is the intent of such numbering? This type of numbering can ride the slippery slope of pride. I must admit that I have been guilty of the same sin. That is of evaluating my performance based upon the same measure. The results of such numbering can lead to self-exaltation or self-abasement, both stem from pride.
The issue is one of intent. The numbering of a congregation can be positive if the intent is to glorify God and join Him by intelligently understanding the nature of the congregation. For instance, it is good to know how many people attend so the church can ensure sufficient seating and parking. It is good to keep track of absentees for follow-up and personal ministry. The best guideline for numbering the congregation is to examine your intent. If it is prideful, do not do it. If it is mission oriented, do so cautiously.
Renewing the Heart 