The census here marks a turning point in Israel’s history. The first generation that was delivered from Egypt and complained continually has now been destroyed by the plague. In fact, just like God had promised, only Caleb and Joshua remained from the time of the first census.
There was not even one man left among those whom Moses and Aaron had listed in the first census in the Sinai Desert. 65 The LORD had said that all of them would die in the wilderness, and except for Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun they all did.
Numbers 26:64-65 GNB
Although there was no growth, the fact that the number remained very similar to the first census is a testament to God’s mercy. Another example is the fact that the Levites actually increased their numbers by 1,000 from 22,000 to 23,000.
There is one final point I want to make about the mercy of God. Though Korah and his clan were swallowed up by the Earth for their rebellion against God and against Moses, his sons were spared. Later in Scripture, a number of the Psalms would be attributed to Korah’s sons as they separated themselves from their father’s rebellion and fulfilled their purpose and calling.
I know many men today who either had a terrible father or none at all. The beauty of God’s mercy is that He deals with each of us individually. We have a Father in Heaven who longs to see us becomes sons and daughters of His Kingdom. Korah’s sons did not let the embarrassment and sorrow of their father’s past hinder them from moving forward in serving the Lord. They did not use it as a crutch or an excuse. They simply followed through with their calling.