For Kids · 3 min with a grown-up
God's people have come a long, long way through the desert. Now they are almost home — and God stops to count His family all over again.
Today's Story
The long years in the desert were nearly over. God's people were camped close to the new land He had promised them. Soon they would go in!
So God said to Moses, “Count the people again. I want to know how many there are.”
Many of the grown-ups who had left Egypt were old now, and a brand-new group had grown up in the desert — boys and girls who were now strong and ready. So Moses and a helper named Eleazar started counting, family by family, tribe by tribe.
One family had no boys at all. A man named Zelophehad had five daughters, and their names were written down too: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah. God did not forget them.
When the counting was done, the number was huge again — a giant family, ready for a fresh start.
God told Moses the land would be shared out so every family would have a place to call their own. A whole new chapter was about to begin.
A Big Word
Talk About It
- Think about everyone in your family. Who would you count if God asked you to count the people who love you?
- God counted a brand-new group who grew up in the desert. What is something new you are getting ready for right now?
- God did not forget the five sisters, even when no one expected their names to be written. How does it feel to know God never forgets you?