Numbers 2:27-34: a reflection

27“Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher. The prince of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ochran. 28His division, and those who were counted of them, were forty-one thousand five hundred. 29“The tribe of Naphtali: the prince of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30His division, and those who were counted of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred. 31“All who were counted of the camp of Dan were one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall set out last by their standards.” 32These are those who were counted of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses. All who were counted of the camps according to their armies were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty. 33But the Levites were not counted among the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses. 34Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set out, everyone by their families, according to their fathers’ houses.

This passage completes the description of how Israel was to camp and to march: each tribe in its assigned place, arranged in order around the tabernacle at the center, each knowing its position, so that the whole vast company moved and rested in order rather than confusion. Everyone by their families, according to their fathers' houses, each in the place appointed to them; and so they encamped, and so they set out.

Notice the orderliness of it: each tribe had its place, and kept it. There was no confusion, no jostling for position, no tribe wandering out of its place; each knew where it belonged and stayed there, so that the whole camp of hundreds of thousands could move and rest as one, in order. The order of the whole depended on each part taking and keeping its appointed place.

That is a picture of the value of each keeping the place God has appointed. We can be discontent with our own place, envying another's position, wishing we were somewhere other than where God has put us, or grasping to move up. But the order and good functioning of the whole depend on each taking and keeping their appointed place faithfully. There is peace and order in contentedly filling the place God has given us, rather than envying another's or abandoning our own. Take and keep the place God has appointed for you, rather than envying another's or grasping for a different one. Your faithfulness in your own place helps keep the whole in order; be content to fill it well, as each tribe kept its place around the tabernacle, so that the whole company moved in order.

Lord, you arranged Israel to camp and march with each tribe in its assigned place around the tabernacle, each knowing its position and keeping it, so that the whole vast company moved and rested in order. Show me the value of keeping the place you have appointed. I can be discontent with my own place, envying another's position, wishing I were somewhere other than where you have put me, or grasping to move up. But the order and good functioning of the whole depend on each taking and keeping their appointed place faithfully. There is peace in contentedly filling the place you have given me, rather than envying another's or abandoning my own. Help me take and keep the place you have appointed for me, rather than envying another's or grasping for a different one. My faithfulness in my own place helps keep the whole in order; help me be content to fill it well, as each tribe kept its place around the tabernacle. Give me contentment and faithfulness where you have placed me.