Numbers 1-3
In the Sinai Desert, God says to conduct a census of the twelve tribes of Israel. Moses counts 603,550 men of draftable age (20 to 60 years); the tribe of Levi, numbering 22,300 males age one month and older, is counted separately. The Levites are to serve in the Sanctuary, replacing the firstborn, whose number they approximated, who were disqualified when they participated in the worshipping of the Golden Calf. The 273 firstborn who lacked a Levite to replace them had to pay a five-shekel “ransom” to redeem themselves.
When the people broke camp, the three Levite clans dismantled and transported the Sanctuary, and reassembled it at the center of the next encampment. They then erected their own tents around it: the Kehatites, who carried the Sanctuary’s vessels (the ark, menorah, etc.) in their specially designed coverings on their shoulders, camped to its south; the Gershonites, in charge of its tapestries and roof coverings, to its west; and the families of Merrari, who transported its wall panels and pillars, to its north. Before the Sanctuary’s entrance way to its east were the tents of Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons.
Beyond the Levite circle, the twelve tribes camped in four groups of three tribes each. To the east were Judah (pop. 74,600), Issachar (54,400) and Zebulun (57,400); to the south, Reuben (46,500), Simeon (59,300) and Gad (45,650); to the west, Ephraim (40,500), Menasseh (32,200) and Benjamin (35,400); and to the north, Dan (62,700), Asher (41,500) and Naphtali (53,400). This formation was kept also while traveling. Each tribe had its own prince or leader, and its own flag with its tribal color and emblem.
Filed under: Weekly Readings
The book of Numbers describes the journey of Israel from Mount Sinai to the banks of the Jordan in Moab, across from Jericho. The journey amounts to almost forty years of wandering through this wilderness area, which becomes in effect a training ground – a type of boot camp. It is a place where all natural resources are removed, including food and water, and the Israelites need to trust their Redeemer completely. They must learn that He is willing and able to supply all their needs. In order to fulfill their ultimate role as the chosen people of God, the family of Jacob now faces the challenge to grow and mature in their new status as the nation of Israel.
Any resentment must be replaced with willing obedience, complaining with grateful praises, and suspicion with trust. Fear, and any accompanying seeds of hatred, must be overcome by Divine love. In the light of God’s revelation, the traits ingrained by harsh slavery need to be recognized and worked out and triumphed over. Then the bound slaves will stand erect and walk forward in the true freedom of their distinct identity as sons and daughters of the Almighty and Holy God.
As the narrative unfolds and culminates in the fear based refusal to enter the Land of Promise, we see that the first generation dies in the wilderness. It is the second generation, under the leadership transferred by Moses to Joshua, who enters victoriously into their destiny as the people of Israel reunited with the land of Israel.
From Rebellion to Relationship
The wilderness trek of the Israelites is as much a spiritual journey as a physical one. They have been rescued from the ruthless and depersonalizing whip of Pharaoh, which had reduced their lives to a terrifying and meaningless existence. Now their Redeemer has wooed them into the quiet, open spaces of the desert, where He speaks to them and draws them into a relationship of covenant love. He longs to dwell with them and to delight in them as a bridegroom over his beloved bride. He is as a faithful, devoted husband to His people Israel. If they will remain close to His side, He will be their constant, loving protector and provider.
However, this transition from separation and the meaninglessness of slavery to the responsibility and rewards of covenantal relationship is not instant or painless. The people of Israel personify the struggles and temptations, failures and rebellion of every individual who is chosen and drawn into relationship with the Beloved of our souls.
All who respond to His gracious mercy and receive the yoke of the Kingdom of God are His people, as described in the first epistle of Peter:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).
The wilderness journey illustrates that life is a succession of choices to be made at every turn, in every situation. It all crystallizes into one clear, translucent truth – God’s will is transcendent, His Word is truth and His ways are perfect. The only clear choice we have at all times is expressed in Jesus’ life-defining declaration: “Father, …not my will but Your’s be done” (Luke 22:42).
In the person of His uniquely-begotten Son, the Father revealed to mankind the perfect image of Himself, in which all are created. Jesus, in His complete humility and yielding to the will of the Father, raised high the standard of the Kingdom’s righteousness, peace and joy. He also made the way clear for all God’s children to follow Him in loving obedience and to enjoy the richness of relationship with our Father, the Creator of all.
First Fruits – Set Apart unto God
The festival of Shavuot / Pentecost, celebrated on 18th- 20th May this year, is also called Zman Matan Torateinu, the Time of the Giving of our Scripture. When the Temple was standing, the people of Israel would bring the first-fruits of their harvest up to Jerusalem in joyous procession as an offering of gratitude to the Giver of all things. Today we can offer grateful praise for our Messiah-Redeemer, who died on our behalf and was raised from the grave as a ‘first-fruits’ of resurrection life.
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
In fulfillment of His own purpose He gave us birth by the Word of Truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of His creatures”
(James 1:17-18).
God met with His people at Mount Sinai at the first Shavuot, and again at Mount Zion, where He presented another great gift. With Jesus, the Word incarnate, now enthroned at His right hand, God poured upon the disciples gathered in the Temple courts the infilling presence of His Holy Spirit. The gift freely given to all who receive – the Spirit of holiness, who leads into all truth, gives guidance and counsel, and imparts insight into the Word of God. At Shavuot we celebrate the Giver of these perfect gifts. What better way to do so than by the study of His Word, in the light of the Living Word and the anointing of the Holy Spirit? In so doing, we become better equipped to serve our Father and Lord in establishing the order of His Kingdom in our own lives and in the world.
“But we always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth”
(2 Thessalonians 2:13).
For the past several weeks, the Scripture has been setting out the rules and regulations that we can use as guideposts to help us down our spiritual path. Just before we can get too comfortable and feel we know exactly where we are headed, we find ourselves in the wilderness once again.
But life is like that too. As soon as we find a rhythm for ourselves and start to take the routine for granted, something challenges that routine–and often that challenge can be life-altering. The shift from our normal routine can be jarring, and we may feel helplessly adrift at first without having the comforting normal rhythms of our lives to fall back on.
Often, though, we realize that the changes may be beneficial for what I call the long haul of life. The challenges we face force us to evaluate ourselves and adapt, adjust, and move forward in our journey. Though we may initially feel lost in the wilderness, the benefits that come from our self-analysis only aid us in our life ahead.
Those who have confronted major adversities in their lives understand. We are forced to change our lives and our lifestyles. Parents of infants understand this issue best of all. Just as soon as they figure out and get used to their new baby’s routine, the baby changes it. And they are forced to get used to it once again.
For many, the desert, the wilderness is actually a desirable place to be–very different than what the English words perhaps imply. In a manner of speaking, the words conjure images of desolation and helplessness. In the Biblical view, however, the desert is a place where we can see more clearly, unencumbered by other distractions. The desert reflects freedom and uncluttered vision, allowing us to take stock of our lives and ourselves in an environment devoid of outside pressures.
This idea of self-accounting is reflected in God’s directive to Moses in this portion, which is to “take a census of the people” (Numbers 1:2a). As part of the census, Moses divided the group into tribes and assigned each its own set of responsibilities. A simple head-count was not God’s purpose in directing this exercise, nor was it intended as a way to evaluate troop strength in anticipation of preparing to enter the Promised Land.
Taking this census was about assessing our inner strength, helping us to explore what the people can accomplish when they unite their capabilities as individuals.
In building the Organic community we are trying to create, we must consider how those who have cast their lot with us can increase our strength rather than deplete it. The final tally of Moses’ census may have provided a definitive population number, but the process itself was intended to help us realize that as a people our strength as a group is greater than the sum of our parts.