While God promises not to treat us as our sins deserve, He also promises not to stop treating us like His children.  This is why one of the three signs of a true church of Christ is said to be discipline.^[6]  Therefore in Hebrews 12:6 it is explained that while sanctification often smarts, Whom the Lord chasteneth He loveth.^[7]

R.C. Sproul wrote, “The great lie of Satan is that if you really love a child, you won’t discipline him.  In fact, normal discipline is often considered ‘child abuse.’  But the greatest abuse you can give a child is to let him do whatever he wants without any correction, chastening, or discipline.  A truly loving and caring father will rebuke, admonish, and chasten his children … The Father never writes us off.”^[1]

In fact, Hebrews 12:5-10 makes the point^[2] that we should be encouraged when we are painfully disciplined by God as His covenant sign of adoption in Christ.  So in Numbers 26:1-65, God reminds us He is faithful both to punish and preserve His Church.

The English name for the book, “Numbers”, reflects the census of Israelites in chapters 1, 3, and 26.  Nearly 40 years later in chapter 26, their population is about the same number, yet an entirely different people.  As a result of God’s discipline the second generation proceeds with a prosperous future.

God will severely rebuke His Church in any generation.

A father will make good on his promise to spank so his children take him seriously.  Thus Paul writes in 1 Tim. 5:20, Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

God shows His Church that He followed through on Numbers 14 the first time they were near Canaan.  In verses 63-64, their parents at the first census in Sinai aren’t here for this second one in Moab (with Eleazar having replaced Aaron as high priest); and this is just as He said it would be (verse 65).

Notice two parenthetical reminders of His killing greater rebellions in vss. 9-10 (Dathan, Abiram, and Korah in chapter 16) and in vs. 61 (Nadab and Abihu in chapter 10).

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