Numbers 2:1-6: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2“The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall encamp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it. 3“Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Judah shall be Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 4His division, and those who were counted of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred. 5“Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar. The prince of the children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar. 6His division, and those who were counted of it, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

When God arranges the camp of Israel in the wilderness, he sets the tribes around the Tent of Meeting, each in its appointed place, with the tabernacle, the place of God's presence, at the center. The children of Israel shall encamp around the Tent of Meeting, God directs; each tribe in its place, encircling the dwelling of God. The whole community was arranged around God's presence at the center; their shared life together was oriented toward and organized around the God who dwelt in their midst. God's presence was the center of the community's life.

Notice how the community was arranged: around God's presence at the center. The tribes did not encamp at random, or around some other center; they encamped around the Tent of Meeting, the place of God's presence, with God at the center of the whole camp. Their shared life was organized around God in their midst; his presence was central to the community, the center around which everything was arranged. The whole people, in their life together, were oriented toward the God who dwelt among them. God was at the center of their common life.

That is worth taking to heart, for our shared life with others is meant to be centered on God in our midst. Our communities, families, and life together with others can be organized around many centers, around ourselves, our interests, our concerns; but Israel's camp was arranged around God's presence at the center. The shared life of God's people is meant to have God at the center, oriented toward him in their midst, rather than around some other center. Consider what is at the center of your life together with others; let it be God in your midst, rather than some other center. Keep God at the center of your shared life with others, orienting your community, your family, your life together toward him, as Israel encamped around the Tent of Meeting with God's presence at the center; for the shared life of God's people is meant to be centered on God in their midst, oriented toward him rather than around lesser centers.

Lord, when you arrange the camp of Israel in the wilderness, you set the tribes around the Tent of Meeting, each in its appointed place, with the tabernacle, the place of your presence, at the center. The children of Israel shall encamp around the Tent of Meeting, you direct; each tribe encircling your dwelling. The whole community was arranged around your presence at the center; their shared life together was oriented toward and organized around you, dwelling in their midst. Your presence was the center of the community's life. Show me how the community was arranged: around your presence at the center. The tribes did not encamp at random, or around some other center; they encamped around the place of your presence, with you at the center of the whole camp. Their shared life was organized around you in their midst; your presence was central. Take that to my heart, for my shared life with others is meant to be centered on you in our midst. My communities, families, and life together with others can be organized around many centers, around myself, my interests; but Israel's camp was arranged around your presence at the center. The shared life of your people is meant to have you at the center. Help me consider what is at the center of my life together with others; let it be you in our midst, rather than some other center. Help me keep you at the center of my shared life with others, Lord, orienting my community, my family, my life together toward you, as Israel encamped around the Tent of Meeting with your presence at the center.