Title: The Camp of God's People
2011.10.16 Sunday Sermon
We are God's people and we are God's army. Our goal is the kingdom of heaven, and we are now living in a world like the wilderness. While living in this wilderness-like world, God's army must have clear rules and order, and must keep their positions and fulfill their responsibilities. Especially for us, God is with us and becomes our commander. Therefore, we must keep God at the center of our lives, keep our position, and do our duty until we reach that country. We can learn these lessons realistically from the way the Israelites camped and marched in the wilderness.
Jin (陣)
In order for the Israelites to enter Canaan, they did not have to march in disorder. The road they had to go was long and difficult, and they would encounter powerful enemies along the way. So, above all else, it was necessary to organize an army, and the census had already been completed.
What was then needed was to properly and effectively deploy the identified forces. So, God designated the positions of each tribe to encamp and march. The details are presented in today's text. When encamping, the 12 tribes were divided into 3 tribes each centered around the tabernacle, so that they camped on all four sides. To the east of the tabernacle were Judah, leading to Issachar and Zebulun, to the south, along with Reuben, Gad and Simeon, to the west, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, and to the north, Dan and Asher and Naphtali. And when proceeding, the camp of Judah was at the forefront, then the camp of Reuben, and the tabernacle was located in the middle, followed by the camp of Ephraim, and the camp of Dan escorted it at the end. Looking at the appearance and location of these gins, we can learn valuable lessons.
God-Centered Life
The tabernacle (tent of meeting) symbolizes the presence of God. Therefore, the fact that the Israelites camped around the tabernacle means that God is with them. By doing so, the people themselves were to realize that God is with them in their lives and hearts. The tabernacle was located in the center of the people, just like a general's barracks in the middle of an army. Because God was with them in this way, the Israelites were not afraid or shaken.
A God-centered life is very important to us today. God, who showed that He was with His people through the tabernacle, finally sent Jesus Christ to dwell among us through the Holy Spirit and be with us in all of our lives. If we truly put this God at the center of our thoughts and lives and live obediently, we will be able to move forward without wavering until we enter the eternal kingdom. Are you serving God and living God-centered? Please do not forget that here is the secret to our victory.
my life path
The Israelites could not settle in the wilderness because they had to go to Canaan. So they lived in camps suitable for movement. Their goal was the promised land of Canaan.
Our lives on this earth today are similar to this. The writer of Hebrews said, “We are looking for the one to come, because there is no permanent city here” (Hebrews 13:14), and we are “foreigners and strangers” (Hebrews 11:13). We are not people who will live forever in this world. We are just passing through this place for a while towards our destination. Our destination is eternal heaven.
Therefore, we who live on this earth should remember that we do not live on this earth forever, and we should not put our hope in this earth, and we should not cling to the things of this earth. The moment we forget this fact, we will no longer be able to live like citizens of heaven. If we lose our hope in heaven and cling to the things of this earth, we will not be able to live a God-centered life and we will not be able to look after our neighbors. This is not what God's people look like. Let's remember that all these things in the world are not the goals of our lives, and all these things are not worth putting our minds to.
God Sets the Position of Each Tribe
It was not their opinion that the Israelites decided where they would camp in this way. God Himself has assigned their location. Perhaps if we had entrusted this task to the people, we would have fought each other for priority. If they had let Moses decide, they would have fought Moses. However, because God ordained it, everyone obeyed. It was because God's work is the best and most beautiful, and no one dares to complain about God's work. Those who live with the belief that all of our work is done according to God's will will quietly thank and obey. By encamping according to God's appointed position, Israel took on a very beautiful and dignified figure. Balaam, who was called to curse the people of Israel, exclaimed, “How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwellings, O Israel” (Numbers 24:5). What God does for us is so beautiful and good.
If we were to choose our location, what would we do? Like the rest of the world, should we fight each other for good and high positions? At this time, we must follow the lessons that Jesus Himself taught us. “Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave” (Matthew 20:27). How are you doing? Are you willing to be a servant for your brother and take a low position?
The people of Israel were arranged in this way so that each knew his position and duty and carried out his duties in an orderly manner. They kept their places, depended on others, and were taught to listen carefully to their leaders. By doing so, they were able to progress effectively and defeat their enemies.
The kingdom of God is a kingdom of order and peace. The same is true of the church today. God has established a position for each of us and has given us a mission. Are you always standing where God has established you? Do you know your position and mission in the church? And are you handling it well? The church cannot stand upright by meddling and envying others without knowing each other's position and not fulfilling their responsibilities. A church where all members know their position and duties and carry out their duties well is a living and powerful church. Only with this kind of church can we take on God's work with power.
jin of israel