We are in Numbers chapter one with our word for today. צָבָא military service, campaign, military men, troops, army, war, heavenly bodies. It is used 485 times in the Old Testament, 16 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of horde, a host or vast multitude. Exodus 12:51 And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by צִבְאֹתָֽם their hosts. Our word is also used in the sense of army, a permanent organization of the military forces of a nation, usually referring to land forces. Numbers 31:48 Then the officers who were over the thousands of הַצָּבָ֑א the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, came near to Moses. We also find our word used in the sense of war, the waging of armed conflict against an enemy. This is how our word is used 16 times in our chapter. Numbers 1:3 From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to צָבָ֖א war, you and Aaron shall list them, לְצִבְאֹתָ֖ם company by company. Like our word from yesterday our word is also repeated as applying to each of the twelve tribes listed in our chapter. Here are a few examples. Numbers 1:26-27 Of the people of Judah, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to צָבָֽא war: those listed of the tribe of Judah were 74,600. Numbers 1:32-33 Of the people of Joseph, namely, of the people of Ephraim, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to צָבָֽא war: those listed of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500. Numbers 1:52 The people of Israel shall pitch their tents לְצִבְאֹתָֽם by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard. Throughout the Bible God and his people are engaged in battle against evil. Exodus 15:3 The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name. Did you catch that God even describes himself as a man of war? I’ll close with these New Testament passages that identify our conflict and need to fight. Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. 2 Timothy 2:1-4 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
