This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to Numbers 3 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Numbers 3 the tribe of Levi missing from the chapter 1 census is now counted, and they are placed in their position in the camp now.
Levi has three mini tribes, of Kohath, Gershom and Merari which are placed around the tabernacle as such:
Westward side (which is the back) Gershom
Southern side: Kohath
Northern side: Merari
Eastward side: Moses and his family, Aaron, his two remaining sons and their families.
What is interesting here is the comment in verse twenty three that the Gershonites shall camp behind the tabernacle, which is westward. This shows that for them the East is the most significant point in the compass, and is the top of their layout. Thinking back to the last chapter, this means that the Eastward three tribes, led by Judah is at the top of the layout, not the right.
Who cares?
God obviously cares and detail matters to him. Imagine your own camping situation setting up just one tent for one family with no organisation. Now imagine setting up tents for millions of people. Systems are needed.
In the same way our lives matter to him. We can trust he has the details in hand, and so when things are not as ordered as we want, we need to make sure we are doing things the Lord’s way.
May 1, 2021 | Message by David Alley