One by one, the land filled with Israelites, and one by one now, heaven is fast filling up, as well!
It’s hard to say how many there were at the base of Sinai. The males from age twenty and up totaled 603,550. If we add to that the same number of women, and perhaps two children per family, we approach two-and-a-half million people, a growth rate of about 2.6% over the approximately 400 years between the family of Abraham and the nation of Israel. Some disagree, saying it’s too large. They say the word translated as “thousand” might just mean “clan.” But here are some things we do know. Israel grew rapidly during their time in Egypt: “The children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly,…and the land was filled with them” (Ex 1:7). In fact, Pharaoh said, “The people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we” (Ex 1:9). Another indication that this number is correct is seen in the redemption head tax collected in silver. “And the silver from those who were numbered of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary: a bekah for each man (that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone included in the numbering from twenty years old and above, for six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men” (Ex 38:25-26). People also underestimate how many the Lord will have of His heavenly family. When Jesus talked about the few that would be saved, He was referring to the Jews of that generation. But John’s tour of heaven reveals “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” (Rev 7:9). Here’s the surprising promise: “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You” (Ps 22:27).