The book of Numbers presents the plan of God for His people going forward. A plan that removes all chaos. Here we had over 1.5 million people traveling through the wilderness. All around was nothingness, so they had to depend fully upon God to provide their needs. It was essential to remain focused. Any degree of chaos could bring total havoc to their progress. There had to be order. God’s design was perfect. His grace overwhelming as he dealt with their failures, impatience and lack of faith. He provided them with a humble, sacrificial leader who would sacrifice his life for their protection. All God asked for was obedience to His plan for them. Behind them lay slavery, sorrow and despair. Ahead lay the promised land.
He provided from them Leviticus. A detailed plan of structuring their lives in such a manner as to remain safe socially and spiritually. Therein, He provided a means for their redemption from sin through a sacrificial system that pointed the way to Christ. Now in Numbers, God provides an organizational plan that provides efficiency and safety. God within the tabernacle was central, as He must be today in the tabernacles of our hearts. Surrounding the tabernacle were the priests, each group with their own unique orders of what they were responsible for when moving forward. Each tribe remained together, having numbered the available fighting men within them.
God Removes Chaos
Every detail was outlined meticulously by God, so that it would only take moments for the entire camp of over 1.5 million people to be lined up in exit marching order with God leading the way by means of a cloud by day and fire by night. What a magnificent sight that must have been!! The details of that formation were perfectly outlined in Numbers chapters 1 to 4. Obedience to God’s order and plan removed all chaos
Then God presented the need to keep sin “outside the camp” and provided a means of cleansing the camp in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 presented the Nazarite vow for those totally dedicated to sacrificially serve God as Lord as a means of special separation and devotion. Then, the Princes presented their gifts for the altar. So, detailed was God in His record that even a teaspoon of incense was recorded. God does not look upon any sacrifice as too small to be counted for His Kingdom. Chapter 7 is the second longest chapter in the Bible.
Finally, the preparation completed with Chapter 8, the lampstand and the cleansing of the Levites. The lighted lamps represent the Holy Spirit who reveals the beauty of Christ. The lampstand, symbolic of Christ who sent the Holy Spirit into the world. The Spirit of God takes the things of Christ and shows them to us. Now we understand why the lampstand is mentioned between the gifts of the princes and the cleansing of the Levites. It reminds us that everything must be done in the light of the presence of Christ.
Numbers 9:
15 Now on the day that the tabernacle was raised up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the Testimony; from evening until morning it was above the tabernacle like the appearance of fire. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
17 Whenever the cloud was [h]taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents.18 At the [i]command of the Lord the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the Lord they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped. 19 Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not journey.
20 So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the Lord they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the Lord they would journey. 21… when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey.
22 Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. 23 At the command of the Lord they remained encamped, and at the command of the Lord they journeyed; they kept the charge of the Lord, at the command of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
Obedience to God’s Plan
God laid out the blueprint of how to live a victorious life even in the wilderness. Because with God at the center of everything, there is no chaos. Lay aside sin, place it at the cross where we are cleansed. Atonement was made and when God says go, we go. When God says stay, we stay. Never worrying about our comfort, knowing He will provide all that we need. With praise and worship we keep our eyes focused on Him and let Him lead us to our destination. Never lose heart; because He has the perfect plan for each of us who know Him as Savior and Lord. Obedience to God’s call leads to our best plan ever!
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
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[1] New English Translation (NET)
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