Christ in all the scriptures A God of order

 Christ in all the scriptures

The God of order, a people of power  Numbers chapter 1

A cursory reading of the book, and, particularly in chapter 1, reveals that God is a God of order.  This is true in creation where the word cosmos (an ordered arrangement of things-the opposite to chaos) is used to describe the universe.  What is true in the material sphere is also true in the spiritual.  Paul says as much in 1st Corinthians 14v33 to the church at Corinth (a chapter to which we will refer in the course of the study) "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints".  The word confusion means disorder, it is not of God, for He is a God of order.

As He prepares Israel for a journey in difficult circumstances, He does so with very definite principles, which we can follow in the chapter.

1)  Males only called to go to war   "Every male by their polls"-1v2.  Unlike authorities today who commission women to the front line in warfare, God sanctioned only males.  Any restrictions God places upon women is out of respect for them.  As Creator, He knows them better than they know themselves.  Women have a much more noble task, to produce and rear the next generation.

2)  Mature men only  "...from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel"1v3.  God does not send juveniles into danger; He only sends those who are able.  He does not expect disabled or juvenile to become warriors, only able bodied men.  His commissions are tempered with compassion and understanding of human needs.  He exempts from military duty in the following situations: those who are betrothed, but not yet married; those who are newly married are excused for a whole year; those who have planted a vineyard but not yet eaten of the fruits; those who have built a house but not yet dedicated it; those who were fearful and fainthearted-refer Deuteronomy 20v5-10 and 24v5.  God respects the importance of romance and marriage and homes and establishment of business in a man's life.  He also recognises that some are not courageous enough to engage in war. 

3) Named leadership  "These are the names of the men that shall stand with you..."-1v5.  Every institution whether of a household or a business, or organisation, or nation, knows the necessity of  the need for structure.  God is here establishing the structure of Israel, moving forward.  He names the heads of the twelve tribes, men of renown in each tribe, to organise them in the service of God.  Under Moses and Aaron, these were responsible to communicate the will of God to their people.

4)  Public recognition   "And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names: and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward by their polls.  As the Lord commanded Moses, so He numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai"-1v17-19.  Nothing was done in secret, no one were in any doubt who were their men of war and who were their leaders.  The census was taken before they set out on their journeys.

5)  Israel were a formidable force  "These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.  So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel...603,550!"-1v20-46.   Anyone who thought this former nation of slaves would be weak or disorganised, would soon realise the contrary.  This was a powerful force for God, and for good, which would stand the test of time.  History has ratified it, and the best is yet to come!  There is no nation on earth as powerful as Israel with Almighty God by their side, and the future will confirm it.  Prophecy reveals that they will be invaded from all sides, but will repel all enemies, who, in the language of scripture, will "fall on the mountains of Israel, thou and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee"-Ezekiel 39v4 (from the section Ezekiel 38v8-39v8).  They will be, by the decree of God, the "head of nations"-Deuteronomy 28v13; Jeremiah 31v7.

6)  The tribe of Levi were set apart to attend the sanctuary   "But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them...but thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it, they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof, and they shall minister unto it, and they shall encamp round about the tabernacle"-1v47-50.

They were substituted by the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh and their tribes, and set apart for holy service.  The most important factor in their community was the presence of God among them, as symbolised in the tabernacle.  The Levites were positioned closest to the tabernacle to maintain the sanctity of God among them.  This is the covenant of Levi in Malachi 2v4-9.  Because of their reverential fear of the Lord they were given the privilege of service in the holy place, of arranging the vessels and teaching the truth of God to the people.  This is the primary function of any community which takes the name of God-"Holiness becometh thine house O Lord for ever"-Psalm 93v5.  All else is secondary to this. The result was a sanctified, structured, organised people under God

Just as Moses appointed 12 heads of the tribes of Israel, so Jesus appointed 12 apostles to structure and organise the Church.  In the same way the Church is structured and ordered and strengthened and equipped to meet every situation.  Consider the order of the Church: note the prominence of the apostles teaching.

The Church, the body of Christ is one in essence, each member having their place in the whole.  "For as the body (the human body) is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ"-1st Corinthians 12v12.  Christ and His body, with many members, are inseparable, and function as one.  In these days of sectarian divides this truth must be heralded fro the rooftops.  Deviations from that may have caused the present weakness and lack of influence on the world.  Christ is the head, we are the body and practises should be altered to conform to that.  The same chapter tells us of the order in the body of Christ, that is the order of proper functioning under Christ..."But now hath God set the members, every one of them, in the body as it has pleased Him"-12v18.  Again, "God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that..."-12v28.  No one can miss the order, first, second third...nor the fact this is God's action.  The apostles and prophets are no longer with us, but their writings are authoritative, and the task of the teachers is to expound the word of God so that the people of God can discern His will.  The point of the chapter is that there is an order under which all the members can exercise their gift for the good of the whole.

Acts 2v42 "...they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine...".  2nd Peter 3v1 "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you: in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance; that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandments of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour".  Note the teaching of the apostles is on the same level as the prophets of old: also that their teaching was authoritative for the early church, as it is for the church of today.

Divine structure, Divine order, Divine organisation, Divine unity, Divine sanctification, Divine power.  This is how God works.  Even in our weak and divided state, the Church of Jesus Christ is the most powerful entity on earth, and we are all privileged to be part of it.  And what of the future?  Says Paul, "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world"?  Know ye not that we shall judge angels.  How much more things that pertain to this life? (1st Corinthians 6v2-3).  With all our imperfections we are the most formidable force on earth, against whom even the powers of darkness will not prevail-Matthew 16v18.  We know we can do better, so let's believe it, and get to it, to fix the aberrations that are holding us back!