Scripture:
Numbers 2:1-2 ESV
[1] The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, [2] “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.
Observation:
The scripture says the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron giving them directions for the people of Israel. The LORD is a GOD of order. That’s made pretty clear in the Bible. HE even had a specific way HE wanted HIS people to camp. The Levites were responsible for the tent meeting setting up and taking down. They were also to be encamped around it to keep any outsiders at a distance, and the rest of the tribes were to set up their camps all facing the tent of meeting. If we remember right a week or 2 ago we were reading and saw how the glory of the LORD would settle down on the Tabernacle when they were supposed to stay still and would lift when it was time to go. So camping with the tents all facing the Tabernacle was very important.
Application:
I’m thinking about Peter the only person other than Jesus to ever walk on water. He had some pretty serious bragging rights. I wonder how much different that whole thing would have gone had he been able to keep focused on Jesus. This is something that the LORD has been trying to tell us from the beginning of the book. I can almost hear HIM saying… I’m right here, look at me, I got you, just take the next step. We may be thinking I can’t do this, I don’t know how, or even what if I fail. I have but one thing to say if those are our thoughts our eyes are not on the one who makes all things possible. Peter started to sink then he started looking at the storm. GOD had the Israelites camp with their tents facing HIM when we have our eyes firmly fixed on the one who makes all things possible. We need not worry about the storm or the possibility of attack. The maker of heaven and earth has our back. Let us fix our focus on HIM. Knowing that the word impossible can’t be used when describing HIM. Unless it’s stated like this… We serve the GOD who makes the impossible possible. I never want to take my eyes off of GOD. I am not faulting Peter for looking at the storm. After all, he got out of the boat. He walked on water long enough to have a story in the Bible about him GOD made that possible. What I am saying is it’s time to get out of the boat. Just remember to set up camp facing the one who created you.
Prayer:
Father, let us not lose sight of you. Let us keep our eyes fixed on you. When we keep our focus on you we will know that the storm is only a storm. The Israelites camped facing you, knowing that you closed the door on their past at the Red Sea. You have washed away our past at the cross. We want our eyes fixed on you. I can hear your voice telling me just one more step. Like a father teaching HIS child to walk leading with your hands poised to catch me if I start to fall. As long as I look at you my feet don’t get shaky. But as soon as I look at my feet I fall. Eyes fixed knowing you got me. That’s my desire and this morning as I pray I hope that’s the desire of anyone reading this as well. In the mighty name of jesus I pray amen.