Today’s passage: Numbers 2
Helpful thoughts:
- In this chapter, God gives instruction on how the nation of Israel was to set up camp and how to structure themselves while they were on the move.
- The tribe of Levi served as a barrier to prevent people from the other tribes gaining unapproved access to the tabernacle. Or, another way to look at it, the Levites served the Lord and the nation by protecting and carrying the tabernacle.
- Both in camp and on the march, the tribe of Judah served to lead the nation. King David and King Jesus would later descend from the tribe of Judah.
Questions to consider:
- What was God’s place (His presence in the Tabernacle) among the nation of Israel? Why were they to face the center of the camp? Of what should these instructions have reminded the people? How is God to be the center of our lives still today (and forever!)?
- Who were the leading tribes in each set of three? What reasons can you think of from the history of Genesis which seem to point toward these aspects of leadership (e.g. Judah, Reuben, Ephraim over Manasseh)?
- What would have been some practical reasons for this instruction? Why did it matter how Israel camped or how they moved together? What kinds of things does God care about and how would His love for His people have motivated and articulated these laws?