40 years of wilderness wandering crunched down into 36 chapters. That’s the book of Numbers. So much left out, and it will be interesting to fill in some of the blanks when we get a chance to have conversations with Moses and others in eternity. In the meantime, God has given us what we need to know. And the first thing we realize is that Israel must prepare for war and that she has many enemies. So, the census of men is conducted, men “from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war” (1:3). Also, there is the need for organization that will enable the people to move efficiently through the desert, which requires the ordering of the tribes and their placements around the tabernacle (chapter 2).
And then, there’s the matter of worship. And so, the establishment of the Levites and the priests and their respective duties and responsibilities (chs. 3,4). Like Israel, we live in a chaotic world and fallen world. We dare not sleepwalk through the years but, always relying upon our God, we plan and organize and set goals. I think of Solomon’s counsel in Proverbs: “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5) & “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3) & “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9) & “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22). It was so for Israel. It was so for Solomon. And it is so for us.
Captain of Israel’s host, and guide
of all who seek the land above,
beneath your shadow we abide,
the cloud of your protecting love;
our strength, your grace; our rule, your word:
our end, the glory of the Lord.
By your unerring Spirit led,
we shall not in the desert stray;
we shall not full direction need,
nor miss our providential way;
as far from danger as from fear
while love, almighty love, is near. –Charles Wesley (18th century)