In our modern day society, it has become commonplace for people to challenge nearly every “landmark” and question the significance of almost all that the Church holds and trusts.
However, the word of God admonishes us with such instructions as… DO NOT to remove your neighbor’s landmark. Without much explanation, we are admonished to leave alone the things that serve as structure and stability, in an otherwise, unstable world! So, having established that, I want to write about something that I feel very passionate about.
When the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt’s bondage, they came out as a mass of people, or a mob of humanity. However, God in His infinite wisdom, understood the incredible advantage that men would have when they formed a sense of community. That is why God is pro-family, because He recognizes our need for structure and stability. There is a sense a safety whenever we assemble ourselves together. The Bible mentions the safety that is found in the multitude of counselor.
That is why, at least in apart, I believe that God divided the children of Israel into tribes. He did NOT intend for them to walk aimlessly through life on their way to the Promised Land. He had a set structure that he wanted them to follow after.
Psalms 68:6 God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.
That is why whenever someone receives the Holy Ghost; God puts them into a church “family” somewhere. It is NOT the will of God that the solitary STAY in that condition! God sees the ultimate need in all of us for FAMILY, COMMUNITY, ETC. And that is why He provides that for us!
And it is here in the book of Numbers that we read about these tribes and we see the Lord setting into motion something that we are benefiting from today. This mass of people was divided into tribes as follows:
JUDAH was on the east and under him he had Issachar and Zebulun
REUBEN was on the south and under him Simeon and Gad
EPHRAIM was on the west and under him Manasseh and Benjamin
DAN was on the north and he had under him Asher and Naphtali.
It has been noted by some that these four principal divisions were not alone distinguished by their ensigns, but that each particular tribe had likewise its standard or ensign. Some Bible scholars have gone so far as to define the colors, and the figures or arms, of the very ensigns.
Num 2:31 All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.
So here are these chosen men that bear the FLAG or STANDARD and God calls that standard a “sign of your father’s house.” (Ex 2:2) The children of Israel was, in the truest sense, A NATION OF PEOPLE WITHOUT A COUNTRY, so God gave them a father, or at least a “father-figure” by way of placing everyone in a “family or community setting.”
So here we see that Israel had to learn to PITCH their tents TOWARD the standard. That gave them an opportunity to develop friendships, perhaps even to settle them into families.
The message was clear; ALWAYS PITCH YOUR TENT TOWARD YOUR OWN STANDARD! STAY WITH YOUR FAMILY(CHURCH)!
I can only imagine, but I just have to believe that they pitched their tents so that when they walked out in the morning, the very first thing they would see was the standard or the flag that represented their FATHER or their family. These standards (flags) became so important to them because as they began to move when the CLOUD or the FIRE moved, they all had to stay together. And when they finally arrived at their destination, in order for there to be harmony, they had to know where their standard was.
Now, you need to bear in mind that when this massive array of men and women began to move, it was the equivalent of the city of Indianapolis! So it goes without say that this standard became in very complex part of all of their lives. However, these”standards” were raised by a certain person within the camp. They became known as a “standard-bearer.”
They, no doubt, had grown to solely depend upon the standard bearer. After all, they are the ones that will keep them in line and in check with everything else in their life! There are many ways to think of this and perhaps when they had become weary in battle or just simply overwhelmed with the enemy, they had better know how to find their way back home!
That FLAG or STANDARD brought such a sense of hope to those that were weary in the battle and perhaps had felt a little lost in their way! It matters that someone is lifting up the ensigns or the flags because countless thousands of people are depending on them for their personal peace and ultimate safety.
Moses lifted up his hands and when he did Israel won the battle. The bronze serpent was lifted up in the wilderness and it brought healing. Jesus said “If I be lifted up…” Powerful things happen when the right thing is lifted up!
IT really does matter where you pitch your tent. I want to pitch mine so that the very first thing I see everyday is my father’s house or my father’s ensign. It really does matter! Lot pitched his tent “TOWARD” Sodom, yet that didn’t seem to be enough, because it was long until we read about him and then he is IN Sodom!
It is interesting to note that Lot’s wife was the only person in the Bible that died lost in the arms of angels. With arms of redemption wrapped firmly around her, she looked back. Many people have wondered why she did that and I can tell you! She turned back to the place where she had developed her sense of community and family with! It matter’s where you pitch your tent!
You pitch it toward Egypt (THE WORLD) and you are destined to fail!
Absolutely Apostolic & Passionately Pentecostal!
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