Based on Numbers 2:31 – 3:4 (New King James Version)
“‘All who were numbered of the forces with Dan, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred—they shall break camp last, with their standards.’ These are the ones who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses. All who were numbered according to their armies of the forces were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty. But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, just as the Lord commanded Moses. Thus the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses; so they camped by their standards and so they broke camp, each one by his family, according to their fathers’ houses. Now these are the records of Aaron and Moses when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests. Nadab and Abihu had died before the Lord when they offered profane fire before the Lord in the Wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.”
The Lord is a God of order, a God who has a specific purpose and place for everything and everyone. And we can understand this through creation, in everything we see, from the smallest things, like what cannot be seen with the naked eye (the invisible and microscopic things), to the largest things like the planets and stars, and everything contained in the infinity of space, what we know, and what we have yet to know as a human race, and within that also falls the spiritual realm. Although for the moment sin has corrupted the present world, and although the devil and his hosts exist, God’s order remains unalterable. And when things and people follow His commandments, what He has established, then things generally work well. But when there is rebellion or disobedience, that's when problems arise, both as a natural consequence and as punishment, as we saw with what happened to Aaron's sons, who died suddenly because they offered strange fire before the Lord. So, there are certain things that need to be understood very clearly if a person desires the Lord's complete benefit, both for the present, but even more importantly, for eternity.
Since we understand that following the Lord and being within His order brings blessing and eternal life, then the most logical thing would be to obey Him. The matter is really simple. If we just do as He says, everything will fall into place, so to speak. But for that to happen, there must be something infinitely important within us: faith. Because how are we going to follow Him and obey Him as such if we don't believe in Him? This is what the Word says: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. And here is where we see the first challenge for man. Do you really believe that God exists, and that He is who He claims to be in His Word? Many say they do, but their actions and thoughts, even deep down, differ from that faith. And if you doubt this, just look at people's behavior. Wouldn't the world be a totally different place if everyone who claims to believe truly believed in God and followed Him as such? Statistically speaking, one-third of the planet's inhabitants profess to believe in the God of the Bible. So, what is happening then? Why do we see the chaos of sin everywhere, even among those who claim to believe in God? Does such faith exist then? We can conclude this matter in the following way, and the line of logic is very simple: if a person truly believes in God, then they would believe that everything they do is seen, known, and will be judged one day by God. The God of the Bible is not blind, nor deaf, nor even less so, incapable. The Lord is the Almighty God, the beginning and the end, and the One who will judge every human being by their deeds and thoughts. Yes, God will judge man even by what he thinks. We see this in the Word: Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.’” Genesis 6:5-7. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10.
I can understand that it's difficult to keep in mind that God is everywhere, and that He knows even our thoughts, and it's hard for us because we normally take into account what we perceive with our physical senses. However, faith is what gives us the ability (so to speak) to reach that understanding. And if we have such an ability, and everything created speaks to us about God and all He is capable of, then it's no longer a question of ability, but rather, a question of whether we want to believe or not. As it is written: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:20-21. So, according to the Word, a person simply chooses to want to take God into account and believe in Him as such or not. Many so-called scholars of the Word might think that there is something spiritual that has to happen in a person for them to come to the knowledge of God, but His own Word explains to us that creation is what accomplishes that work, and if they cannot see (so to speak) the obvious, like everything around them, it is because they simply choose to not pay attention, and they have no excuse. Can we ignore the sun, the moon, the air we breathe, the beating of our hearts? There is a reason the Word defines as foolish or senseless the person who does not seek God, because they are a person who simply decides not to want to do so and chooses to ignore things that are totally irrefutable and noticeable. Such is the foolishness of man who prefers to believe that all of this is the product of a cosmic accident rather than God as the creator of the entire universe. However, the Word is fulfilled, that when a person decides not to glorify God and persists in that, God Himself will deliver them to their own folly, and they will receive as such the condemnation they deserve.
So, what works together with faith? The fear of the Lord. When a person comes to have that faith in the Lord and comes to understand His ability, the most logical thing that should follow is fear, because He is a Being that is too great and powerful. And when that happens, you should care about the opinion of such a Being. That's why the Word says: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7. If we understand very simple things, so simple that even a child can understand them, then a little common sense would be our best ally. Isn't it common sense to fear a Being who can do everything, knows everything, is everywhere at the same time, and yet just as important, who will judge everything we do and even think? So, do you fear the Lord for eternal life, or do you choose to do something else that will cause your own destruction? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!