The Israelites must wait for the cloud to lift from over the tabernacle before they break camp. Today is when it happens.
"On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle of the covenant law. Then the Israelites set out from the Desert of Sinai and traveled from place to place until the cloud came to rest in the Desert of Paran. They set out, this first time, at the Lord's command through Moses." (Numbers 10:11-13) The Israelites have been free of Egypt for just over a year. Earlier in our chapter they completed the first annual observation of Passover since leaving Egypt. Their men have been numbered and their duties assigned: if they are Levites, their duties have to do with the tabernacle; if they are from the other tribes, their able-bodied men of the right age have been counted for the army. They have been given the ten commandments and laws with which to build a society. They've been provided with the tabernacle and with the regulations regarding offerings and sacrifices. The foundation for their religious life has been put in place. It's time to move out.
"The divisions of the camp of Judah went first, under their standard. Nahshon son of Amminadab was in command. Nathanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar, and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulon. Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gersonites and Merarites, who carried it, set out." (Numbers 10:14-17) These three tribes march out under the flag of Judah, which as we studied earlier in Numbers was thought to bear the likeness of a lion. The Lord has already given the camps the order in which they are to move out and here we find them following His guidelines. The Gershonites and Merarites are the Levite clans who carry the curtains and the framing of the tabernacle. The other Levite clan, the Kohathites, don't move out until the second division strikes camp.
"The divisions of the camp of Reuben went next, under their standard. Elizur son of Shedeur was in command. Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon, and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. The tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived." (Numbers 10:18-21) Ancient tradition has it that the flag of Reuben depicted a man or the head of a man. The Kohathties, who carry the furnishings of the tabernacle, don't move out at the same time as the other two Levite clans. The Gersonites and Merarites move out with the first camp so they will have time to have the tabernacle set up before the Kohathites arrive.
"The divisions of the camp of Ephraim went next, under their standard. Elishama son of Ammihud was in command. Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh, and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin." (Numbers 10:22-24) Their flag may have borne a picture of an ox.
"Finally, as the rear guard for all the units, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai was in command. Pagiel son of Okran was over the division of the tribe of Asher, and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali. This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out." (Numbers 10:25-28) The ancient tradition regarding the standards is that the flag of Dan showed the figure of an eagle.
Moses now asks his brother-in-law, Hobab, to remain with Israel and go with her into the promised land. You'll recall from Exodus that Moses' father-in-law (sometimes referred to as Jethro, other times referred to as Reuel) gave him fatherly advice about not taking on too much of the work himself. Moses' father-in-law instructed him how to delegate some of the work so he would not collapse from exhaustion, which he was apparently on the verge of doing. Moses feels the presence of Hobab will be valuable to Israel as they move ahead toward the promised land. "Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, 'We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.'" (Numbers 10:29) The blessings the Lord is going to pour out on Israel will overflow onto anyone who loves and supports Israel. Moses says to Hobab, "You don't want to miss the things the Lord is doing for Israel. Come and be a part of it. We would love you have you with us so you can have a share in the great things the Lord has in store for us."
Hobab's first impulse is to return to his own hometown and his own people. "He answered, 'No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and to my own people'" (Numbers 10:30) With the Lord guiding Israel, Hobab doesn't feel he is needed. He thinks he can be more useful to the people of his own land than to the people of Israel. But the Lord often---more often than not---invites people to participate in the great things He is doing. The Lord doesn't need the help of man, but man needs to invest his time and effort so that he will also invest his heart. Hobab possesses knowledge and skills that Moses feels will contribute greatly to the safety of Israel, and even though the Lord was fully capable of protecting Israel on His own, He invites this Midianite man to be a part of the formation of the great nation of Israel. He issues the invitation through Moses. "But Moses said, 'Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.'" (Numbers 10:31-32) The Lord is going to show the entire congregation of Israel where to camp, but there will be several times when smaller parties will be sent out on various missions. Hobab knows the wilderness like the back of his hand. He will be able to tell the parties which routes to take and where to camp safely out of sight of raiders.
"So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them during those three days to find them a place of rest. The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp. Whenever the ark set out, Moses said, 'Rise up, Lord! May Your enemies be scattered and Your foes flee before You.' Whenever it came to rest, he said, 'Return, Lord, to the countless thousands of Israel.'" (Numbers 10:33-36) King David wrote a psalm in regard to verses 33-36 and we'll close with some of his words: "May God arise, may His enemies be scattered; may His foes flee before Him. May You blow them away like smoke---as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful." (Psalm 68:1-3)
No comments:
Post a Comment