Numbers 2:12-16: a reflection

12“Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 13His division, and those who were counted of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred. 14“The tribe of Gad: the prince of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel. 15His division, and those who were counted of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty. 16“All who were counted of the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty, according to their armies. They shall set out second.

In the ordering of Israel's camp, each tribe is given its place and its position in the march. Reuben's camp is assigned its spot, with Simeon and Gad beside it, and its order noted: They shall set out second. Each tribe had its appointed place in the camp and its appointed order in the march, some first, some second, some later. No tribe chose its own place or clamored to be first; each took the place God assigned, content with its position, whether to set out first or second or last, in the order God had given.

Notice that each tribe had an assigned place and order, and took it. Reuben's camp was to set out second, not first; and this was simply its assigned place in God's ordering. There is no note of any tribe demanding to be first, or resenting its position; each took the place and order God had assigned. Some went first, some second, some last; and this was the order God had given, in which each was content to take its place. The ordering was God's, and each tribe's part was to take faithfully the place assigned, not to grasp for a higher position.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too are given a place and order by God, and can be content to take it rather than grasping to be first. We can chafe at our place, wanting to be first, resenting a position that seems lesser, grasping for a higher spot; but each tribe took the place God assigned, content to set out second or later as God had ordered. There is contentment in taking faithfully the place God assigns, rather than grasping to be first. Do not chafe at the place and order God has assigned you, grasping to be first; take your assigned place faithfully, as each tribe took its position in the camp and march. Be content with the place and order God assigns you, taking it faithfully rather than grasping to be first, as Reuben's camp was content to set out second in the order God had given; for God orders the places of his people, and there is contentment and faithfulness in taking the place he assigns rather than grasping for a higher one.

Lord, in the ordering of Israel's camp, each tribe is given its place and its position in the march. Reuben's camp is assigned its spot, with Simeon and Gad beside it, and its order noted: they shall set out second. Each tribe had its appointed place in the camp and its appointed order in the march, some first, some second, some later. No tribe chose its own place or clamored to be first; each took the place you assigned. Show me that each tribe had an assigned place and order, and took it. Reuben's camp was to set out second, not first; and this was simply its assigned place in your ordering. There is no note of any tribe demanding to be first, or resenting its position; each took the place and order you had assigned. Some went first, some second, some last; and each was content to take its place. The ordering was yours, and each tribe's part was to take faithfully the place assigned. Take that to my heart, for I too am given a place and order by you, and can be content to take it rather than grasping to be first. I can chafe at my place, wanting to be first, resenting a position that seems lesser, grasping for a higher spot; but each tribe took the place you assigned, content to set out second or later. Keep me from chafing at the place and order you have assigned me, grasping to be first; help me take my assigned place faithfully, Lord, as each tribe took its position in the camp and march.