Sin Will Shrink Your Territory, The Presence will Prosper It

Numbers 25 ends auspiciously. The passage makes certain we know who was the man that committed the gross sin in the sight of the Lord with the Midianite woman and was struck down with her at the hand of Phinehas.
Numbers 25:14 (ESV) The name of the slain man of Israel, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, chief of a father’s house belonging to the Simeonites.

What we know is that he is from the Simeon tribe. This is why his name and tribe are mentioned. The very next chapter is the census of the new generation. Interestingly, the tribe that has LOST the most men is also the tribe of Simeon. 
Numbers 26:12–14 (ESV) The sons of Simeon according to their clans: of Nemuel, the clan of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the clan of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the clan of the Jachinites; 13 of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites. 14 These are the clans of the Simeonites, 22,200.

In the first census, the Simeonites were over 59,000!

Numbers 1:22–23 (ESV) Of the people of Simeon, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, those of them who were listed, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 23 those listed of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.

In light of their sin, more than half the tribe was gone. Their lower numbers also meant a lower amount of territory allotted to them since they had no need of it. The simple and unmistakable fact is this - sin will shrink you. It is not others that suffer as much as it is you. You will destroy yourself in sin. 

God's grace is also on display in the new census. Despite the evils of the Reuben and Simeon tribes, they still have numbers and will get an allotment of the land. God's grace is always greater than our sin.

This new census alerts us to both the gracious hand of God to preserve a remnant even in the most sinful of people groups and that humans inescapably will hurt and lose out when it comes to sin. The old lie of the deceiver is being shown more and more for the absolute falsehood it is - taking matters in our own hands is NEVER the way to prosper. Living dependently and obediently will always produce prosperity. 

Romans 6:23 (ESV) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 2:15–17 (ESV) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

The other fact of this census is those tribes camped on the East - Judah, Issachar and Zebulun showed significant gains in numbers. Now Zebulun means, "wished for habitation" while Issachar means, "to be rewarded" and Judah means "praise." These tribes are also on the side on which the door to the tabernacle is located. The point is subtly made. When we come to God's presence with praise, longing for His habitation and seeking to make our home in Him - there is a reward waiting. 

The census seems to bear this out.

Amen.