Preparing For War

Preparation for War

On 1 Iyar 2449 – exactly one month after the Tabernacle was erected, while the people were still encamped at Mount Sinai – G-d told Moses to take a census of the Jewish men in preparation for their conscription into the Jewish army.

You and Aaron must count all those in Israel 20 years old and over who are fit to serve in the army, by their troops.

Numbers 1:3

The idiom the Torah uses for “take a census” is “raise the heads” of those being counted. Since the purpose of the census was to conscript the people for battle, this indicates that in order to overcome the enemy, the army must always feel above it. Similarly, G-d conscripts us daily to battle the spiritual desolation of our material world. In order to overcome this enemy, we must always feel above it.

Therefore, the very first directive recorded in the Code of Jewish Law, is that when it comes to fulfilling G-d’s will, we must not be embarrassed by scoffers. This includes external scoffers – those who try to mock us for our dedication to our ideals – and our inner scoffer, the evil inclination. Only in this way can we proceed to fulfill G-d’s will for us throughout the rest of the day, thereby actualizing each day’s spiritual potential to the fullest.

— Daily Wisdom 3