"Order in the Camp!"

Scripture Passage for Today

Numbers 2:1-3:51

Scripture Focus

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NLT)

Observation

Yeah, I know—today’s Scripture focus doesn’t come from today’s Scripture passage (or even today's book or even today's Testament!).  But hey, who’s quibbling over details? Besides—it’s what came to mind as I read about God’s plan for the encampment of the Israelites around the Tabernacle.

Maybe it’s because I’m a guy who really values symmetry and sequence, but I love the “order” that characterized Israel’s campsite. In the center sat the Tabernacle, with the Levites (God’s chosen servants) allocated places around it. As part of those assignments, Aaron and his family camped in front of the Tabernacle, which faced east. Around all of that—with the Tabernacle and the Levites in their assigned places—each of the twelve tribes were given their places.

The assignments speak to the holiness of God—the placement of the Levites around the tabernacle preventing unauthorized personnel from rushing rashly into God’s presence. The placement of each tribe facing the Tabernacle speaks to the centrality of the presence of God for the people overall. The placement of the Tabernacle itself facing east speaks to the forward focus of God’s plans for His people and the promise of each new sunrise. And the assignments of the various places and responsibilities speak to the value of every individual in the health and functioning of the whole community.

It’s not a matter of God (or His ways) being rigid or inflexible If any nation were ever about “movement” and “progress”, it was this new nation birthed by God! The beauty is the settled center and forward focus of this newly liberated people—two key characteristics of every healthy believer—evidenced even in the way God organized the campsite.