You plus the L-rd are a majority

Bamidbar {1:1} HaShem spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Mizrayim (Egypt), saying, {1:2} Take the sum of all the Kahilah (congregation) of the Bnei Yisrael (children of Israel), by their families, by their avot' (fathers’) houses, according to the number of the names, every male, by their polls; {1:3} from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go forth to war in Yisrael, you and Aharon (Aaron) shall number them by their hosts.

As we read Parsha Bamidbar we see that it is true to its English name: Numbers. That is because Parsha Bamidbar deals totally with the numbering of the bnei Yisrael. You kind of wonder why HaShem would include all this information in Scripture. What importance would knowing how many warriors Yisrael had thousands of years ago have to us and for that matter to all past and future generations? What importance does it have how many Leviim (Levites) there were or what the total of Aharon’s and Moshe’s (Moses’) family was? Obviously it must have some importance otherwise HaShem would not have included this information in Torah and taken up so much space to doing it.

Obviously HaShem did not need Moshe for the purpose of counting the bnei Yisrael. Surely the G-d who has numbered the very hairs on our heads (Mattityahu [Matthew] 10.30) knows the number of each tribe of Yisrael. So why did HaShem have Moshe number the bnei Yisrael? I believe because it was necessary for Yisrael to know how many they were, it is was necessary for past generations to know, it is necessary for us to know and it is necessary for future generations to know. Why? For the same reason He reduced Gideon’s army from a force of thirty thousand men to a meagre band of three hundred men (Shoftim / Judges 7.6-7). Yisrael was being prepared to invade the land of Canaan and HaShem knew that they were going to come up against an army larger, greater and mightier than they. He wanted the unbalanced odds to be obvious to them, because He was proving them. After all did they not recently say:

Shemot {19:7} Moshe came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which HaShem commanded him. {19:8} All the people answered together, and said, "All that HaShem has spoken we will do." Moshe reported the words of the people to HaShem.

The knowledge they had of their numbers was about to be used to test their faith, would they pass or would they fail? Sadly the effect of the knowledge of their numbers was demonstrated by the negative report brought back by the ten spies. It certainly appears like HaShem used the knowledge they had of their numbers to test their faith, and they failed!

Bamidbar {13:27} They told him, and said, We came to the land where you sent us; and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. {13:28} However the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified, [and] very great: and moreover we saw the Bnei Anak there… {13:31} But the men who went up with him said, We aren't able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we… {13:33} There we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Because Yisrael knew their numbers, they compared themselves with the numbers and strength of the enemy. Sadly as happens with us the odds affected their vision, their faith! How quickly we forget! Numbers however do not affect G-d. He knew very well that Yisrael was the least among the nations and He told them so:

Devarim (Deuteronomy) {7:7} HaSHEM didn't set his love on you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people; for you were the fewest of all peoples:

What is most interesting about this passage in Devarim is that HaShem was telling this to the new generation of Yisrael, the sons of those who where affected by the numbers forty years earlier. This new generation was now poised to enter the land their fathers refused to enter because of their inferior numbers.

Yisrael today is still greatly outnumbered. Not only is she surrounded by nations that are greater than she, but most of the world is also united against her. Yet despite this Biblical example recorded in Bamidbar for all generations to see, once again the numbers are affecting Yisrael’s decisions, they are affecting her vision.

HaShem is definitely showing us something here. Numbers do not count when His people are concerned. He makes us aware of numbers only for the purpose of bringing Himself glory. That is why I believe He has given us this information written in His word for all generations to see. We need to know how few we are so that when the battle is won G-d will get the glory not us. Remember this the next time the odds seem overwhelmingly against you in life, no matter what the situation is. HaShem is the odds maker so as long as you are following in His commandments, the battle and the victory and most importantly the glory is His. All you need to do to win is be to willing to fight. You plus the L-rd is always a majority.

Devarim {7:9} Know therefore that HaShem your G-D, He is G-D, the faithful G-D, who keeps brit (covenant) and loving kindness with them who love Him and keep His Mitzvot (Commandments) to a thousand generations, {7:10} and repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them: He will not be slack to him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face. {7:11} You shall therefore keep the Mitzvah, and the statutes, and the huchim (judgements), which I command you this day, to do them.

Tehillim/Psalms 81:13 Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 81:14 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries.

Rabbi Jack "Yaacov" Farber is the spiritual leader of Congregation Melech Yisrael in Toronto, Canada.

Copyright 2004