Bamidbar (In the Desert)
Bamidbar begins our journey with G-d in the wilderness; it is literally boot camp before entering the Promised Land. G-d is a G-d of order and he begins with an organizational sketch of the 12 tribes and their gerim. He maps out the charter for how Israel will function in the future. G-d tells Moshe to take a census of all the men. Why is this so important? Doesn’t G-d know how many we are? Everything He does is for us, never for Him. He wanted to show us what a miracle we have gone through. We began with 70 people entering Egypt followed by G-d freeing us from the slavery of Egypt after hundreds of years. We left a mixed multitude having entered the same way, Jew and Gentile together. Each had an important role to play.
The men between 20 and 60 were counted to become the army but the Levites were singled out to become the intercessors between Israel and G-d. They would not go into battle in the same way as the physical soldiers; their battle would be a spiritual one. Again we see that G-d gives us each roles to play. The Levites were given very specific roles which continue to be enumerated into the parashah Naso. Whenever they overstepped their roles, there was a consequence. We read about such a consequence in 2 Samuel 6:6-9 and I Chr 13:4-14; 15:3-15, where Uzah was struck down by G-d when he reached out to prevent the ark of G-d from falling off the cart. King David knew the commandment that only a Levite, specifically from the line of Kehat could touch the Ark.
Do you realize that this still applies to us today? When G-d gives us a set of rules to live by, He also gives us our calling. When we step outside this calling we will never be fulfilled. When we are called by Him, it is a calling to serve Him no matter how small or simple the task might be.
How is G-d using you in your life? Until you respond to that call you will never be satisfied.
Another lesson from this portion is that we are not to look at what others are doing as if their calling is more important or more glamorous than the one to which we were assigned. The grass always looks greener on the other side. Are you thankful for the side that you are on or are you longing to be on the other side…outside your own calling?
Are you being counted within your community? Are you part of the solution for making the community function well or are you part of the problem for creating division?
May G-d add blessings to His Word!