Their Walls are Made of Cannon Balls, Their Motto is Don't Tread on Me. Numbers 1:45-46

The book of Numbers -- the fourth book in the Old Testament -- isn't only about numbers, but it begins with Moses and Aaron numbering all the men of Israel between the age of twenty and fifty. These men will be considered the fighting force of Israel as they make their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. 

Jacob, whom God calls, Israel, sired twelve sons. One of those sons was named Levi. His descendants, those who are called the children of Levi, or the tribe of Levi, or the Levites, will provide religious service to the children of Israel. Because of this service they will not inherit land in the same way that the descendants of Levi's brothers will, nor will they be counted as members of the armies of Israel. So when Moses and his brother, Aaron numbered the children to determine Israel's military strength, they did not number the Levites. 

This creates a problem. Jacob had twelve sons and this number will be retained. One son, Joseph, was sold into slavery by his brothers because they were jealous of him. What his brothers couldn't foresee was that a great and terrible famine would fall upon all the region of the middle east and the very existence of the family of Jacob would be put in peril of starvation. In the meantime, Joseph was passed around by merchants and finally found himself a slave in Egypt. There he proved himself so valuable that he became second only to Pharaoh in power in Egypt. Joseph foretold the coming of the famine by divining the meaning of Pharaoh's dream. Pharaoh was so impressed, he placed Joseph in charge of preparing for the famine. When the famine was well established, Jacob and all his family removed to Egypt where Joseph provided for them all. (This is one of the greatest stories in history and well worth reading, but there isn't room in this post to get into it.)

While in Egypt, Joseph sired two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. When Moses and Aaron numbered the men of Israel who would become the armies of Israel, they, as I said, left out the sons of Levi and instead counted the sons of both of Joseph's sons -- Ephraim and Manasseh. Anyway, it was quite a task and when it was done, the sum was remarkable.

"So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel: Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty." Numbers 1:45-46.

603,550 men ready to fight for Israel. That's a lot of soldiers. The strength of the United States Army in 2017 was about 470,000. Israel's army was considerably larger than the current US Army. I have to assume that the Israelites were impressed by their strength, but I wonder if it impressed Moses the enumerator. 

The children of Israel were a recalcitrant lot and they continually angered God. So unfit did they prove themselves for the calling they had been called to that instead of the trip from Egypt to Promised land being a long hike, it became a forty year ordeal. God marched them around in the desert until the Israelite men who came out of Egypt had died and their sons and grandsons had taken their places. Nevertheless, the Israelites did finally occupy the Promised Land and established Israel as a great nation. But they continued to fail God.

Generations went by. The great army Moses numbered in the desert waxed and waned. As powerful as it was, the remnant of the children of Israel, decimated by war with their foes and by infighting amongst themselves, were carried away captive to Babylon where one of their their prophets, perhaps Jeremiah, wrote these sorrowful words:

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

For they that carried us away captives required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion." Psalm 137:1-3.

Long after the trial of internment in Babylon, Jesus taught that true strength lies not with armies, but in love. He says, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Matthew 5:44.

The great army plan didn't work. It has never worked. Yet it the solution sought by all nations in all times. It is a plan that has been embraced by most people throughout history; including Christians. So far no nation has given Jesus' plan a try. To this motorcycle, that doesn't make sense.