Title Numbers 2:1~34
Contents
Text: Numbers 2:1-34
Hymns: No. 524 (He made the way clear)
Today's sermon is about the camp arrangement and march of the twelve tribes in Israel's wilderness journey after the Exodus from Egypt. Following the census, God commanded Moses and Aaron. This is verse 1. “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,”
In the Old Testament, there are words of expression that appear most frequently. It is an expression of “the LORD spake,” or “the LORD said.” The expression “Thus saith the Lord” is repeated countless times. It is the most easily found expression of the Old Testament wherever you open it. In Numbers, from chapter 1 to chapter 36, this verse is repeated countless times. This is also true of the Gospels of the New Testament, where the expression “Jesus said” is repeated over and over again. What does this mean after all? It reminds us that God is the One who speaks.
God is the one who speaks. God is a God who speaks through His Word. He said, “You speak every day, and every day you speak. He helps our souls, hearts, and lives with His Word, and fulfills the Lord's will according to His Word. God reveals His own being in the Word, comes to us, and saves us. He saves souls, He saves from circumstances, He saves lives.
Therefore, we must listen to the Word every day. We must see the Word with our eyes, hear the Word with our ears, and meditate on the Word every day. And we have to meet God in the Word and face-to-face, and trust God who fulfills and acts according to the Word. With the help of the Holy Spirit who works in the Word, we must face God in the Word, listen to God, and develop faith in God who helps and saves us. This is our salvation, our answer, the mystery of our faith, and our blessing. Proverbs 16:20 “He who pays heed to his word finds good; blessed is he that trusts in the LORD.”
Verses 2 to 31 talk about the placement of the camp, and the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun were located on the east with the Tent of Meeting, which was the place of God's presence, and Reuben, Simeon, and Gad, on the south, Benjamin, and Benjamin, on the west. The tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali to the north, and the tribe of Levi, settled together with the tent of meeting in the center. God placed the twelve tribes of Israel around the Tent of Meeting, the place of God's presence where the ark of the testimony is located.
We are God-centered people. We are people who live by the Word. Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do according to the Word, you do it all for the glory of God, and live a life that only exalts and testifies to God. Whatever the circumstances and circumstances, trust the Word, hold fast to the Word, and walk the Christian path of faith, hope, and love. The reason we meet regularly and regularly is to reaffirm our identity in worship, in the Word and in the Holy Spirit, and to live as Christians in the world. Therefore, just as the twelve tribes of Israel took their place centered on God's tent of meeting, we must always and consistently live God-centered and Word-centered.
Verses 32-34 speak of the order of the march. The order of the march is specifically mentioned in Numbers 10. The order of march is Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Reuben, Simeon, Gad, the Tent of Meeting and the tribe of Levi, Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. When marching, there was also a movable, moved tent of meeting in the center. But today, verse 34 says, “And they encamped and marched according to their flag.” You can see that there was a tribal flag for each tribe.
I have moved several times in my life. There have even been times when we have moved with a wall in between, there have been times when we have moved to the house next door on the same floor, and there have been times when we have crossed the big sea several times. Indeed, I repeated the process of packing and unpacking many times. I don't know how many more times I will move. But one thing is certain, when the time comes, you will move to heaven forever.
We are not complacent in this world. No matter how good the world is, we cannot be complacent. Just as Israel repeatedly said that they had packed and unpacked their luggage, they will pass through the world according to God's decision and time and go to heaven when the time comes. Until then, we will be with the Lord in the Word, and with the Lord's help, comfort, and salvation, we will go on the way of the exodus of this blessed and grateful life.
Prayer. Lord, no matter how good the world is, we cannot be complacent. Because we are travelers from heaven passing through the world. Help me to live in the world according to God's decision and time until we reach the kingdom of heaven, to be with you in the Word every day, and to go on the path of exodus from Egypt of this blessed and grateful life with your help, comfort, and salvation. I earnestly pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.