A Census For Redemptive Fine

When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. Exodus 30:12 KJV

Things do not just happen. Everything God commands has a reason and a meaning. The last time the people of Israel left Egypt in Exodus 12:37, they numbered about six hundred thousand footmen. Now God’s giving another command for a census. Each time God adds a ransom for every soul. The word ransom is from the Hebrew ”Kopher”, meaning the price of a life. In the New Testament, we are reminded that there’s a price on the head of the redeemed ( 1Cor.6:20; 7:23 ). In the Old Testament, the price was an atonement, an expiation for sin. They were to pay the sum or be killed because of sin. In the New Testament, Christ became that price. That was a really heavy price. When David decided to number the people without Gods backing, he paid a heavy price of seventy thousand deaths. ( 2Sam.24:15 ). Davids numbering was for pride, Gods command to number was for rescue from punishment of sin. This was a pointer to the grace and salvation that will be found in Christ. The ransom was the same for every life. The price was set by God Himself. It was what everyone could give to be a part of God’s family. Your salvation is very costly. Don’t joke with it. No sin is worth your price.