Order in Numbers

The reading of today (Numbers 2) depicts a systematic ordering of the placement of each tribe of Israel in respect to the tabernacle. At the command of the Lord, the positioning of each tribe is mapped out. In this mapping scheme, the Tabernacle (or Tent of meeting) is featured in the centre of the Israelite camp, indicating God’s central presence and importance in the affairs of the Israelites. Immediately surrounding the tabernacle (on all sides) is the tribe of Levi, which include the Priests. Finally all the 12 tribes are positioned (in clusters of 3) beyond the Levites and Priests in order of importance, beginning with Judah at the east side of the Tabernacle (see www.youthrevolution.ca/Bible Reading/IsraeliteCampingChart.jpg).


A few observations are necessitated by this intricate ordering of the tribes. Firstly, the holiest tribe is placed next to the tabernacle. And within that tribe, the holiest clan, the priests are positioned at the entrance to the tabernacle on the east side. As you may remember, the Levites showed themselves loyal by not worshipping idols at Mt. Sinai, and thus the Lord promised they would be set apart (Exodus 32). Secondly, the priests are placed at the east end of the tabernacle. This position, being the entrance to the tabernacle courtyard would have been very important, as the priests could determine who was allowed into the tabernacle to offer sacrifices to God. Finally the ordering of the tribes was also important. Judah being the most important tribe, in that Jesus and David were from Judah had the privilege of being positioned next to the priests.

This order ruled their lives as they journeyed in the desert for the next 39 years. Whenever the cloud lifted off the tabernacle, the journey continued. The Israelites would retain the same positioning with respect to the tabernacle as they travelled for days on end. When the cloud by day (or fire by night) stopped, the tribes would set up camp, maintaining the order that God prescribed. Thus they were efficient, maintained uniformity and operated as a fluid mechanism towards their divinely appointed destiny: Canaan.

What is one to make of all these details? Essentially the point is that we need to trust the sovereignty of God, and value our position in life before we can achieve our own destiny. In 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4, God makes it clear that he gives gifts to those he chooses, simply because of divine will and for his sometimes unknown purpose. Thus God knows where he wants us to be positioned in life, and he prepares us and equips us accordingly with temperaments, personalities and gifting needed to fulfill our divinely appointed purpose. Since God knows the master plan, our job is trust his divine ordering. When we compare ourselves to others, envy positions and gifts, or put undue guilt and pressure on ourselves, we move out of God’s order, and we are in danger of being out of order. Have you ever tried to use a bank machine and the sign said out of order, or worse still a washroom in times of emergency? How frustrating!!! Similarly when we don’t value where God puts us and we function out of our own inner desires we end up being frustrated, and find ourselves out of order, unable to be of true help to those around us.