Numbers 1:2
Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.
Counting
We see the importance of counting which opens with a census of the children of Israel: “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.” Why was it important to know the exact number of the people of Israel at this point in the story? Why did God count? And if they were counted, why did their names need to be mentioned as well? One answer of counting is that God loves His children.. That’s why He keeps counting. Without a count, all we have is a rough account. That would mean that if one person was subtracted, it wouldn’t be noted. By counting the people, like a child counting candies or toys, each person has importance. This is what is meant in Psalms, when we read, “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name” (Psalm 147:4). The importance of counting gives whatever is counted significance. God loves us.
