God ordained that Israel camp in a
specific formation in the wilderness on their way to the Promised
Land. The Tabernacle of God was in the middle of the camp. To the
east of the Tabernacle camped Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun-in total
they were 186,400 (Numbers 2:9). To the south camped Reuben,
Simeon, and Gad-in total they were 151,450 (Numbers 2:16). To the
west camped Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin-in total they were
108,100 (Numbers 2:24). To the north camped Dan, Asher, and
Naphtali-in total they were 157,600 (Numbers 2:31). Now, what is
very interesting to note is that if we were to draw these numbers
according to scale, the way they camped formed a cross! Isn't it
amazing! To the east were many more people than to the west, and
the north and the south were almost equal, actually forming a cross
with the longest ax towards the east.
So, Israel was in fact already
living in the reality of Jesus being sacrificed for them, and
therefore they were protected. And not only that, Jesus's heart of
love for them was in the center in the form of the Tabernacle. He
was encamped with them, and therefore no evil could befall them!
Did you know that Israel was never attacked and beaten while they
camped this way in the wilderness? It is certainly something to
ponder and to learn from. While God was in the center of them as a
nation, they were unbeatable.
Also, it is worthy to note that the
long bar of the cross (or where Jesus's feet would be) faced east.
Why? Well, the Lord wanted them to focus on where the sun was
rising, symbolizing that He is the Light of the world. He was the
One who would bring light in their darkness. He wanted them to
renew their commitment to Him every day as the sun rose to bring in
a new day. For in His light, they could see light (Psalm 36:9); in
other words, they could see the path laid out for them, the way to
go. It was also prophetic of what was to come. The Temple of God,
later built by Solomon, also faced eastward (Ezekiel 11:1), and
when God later departed from the Temple due to the nation's
disobedience, He departed from the threshold, thus in an easterly
direction (Ezekiel 10:18). The glory of the Lord therefore left the
city on the east side (Ezekiel 11:23). But when Jesus comes back
again, His feet will land on the Mount of Olives, which faces
Jerusalem on the east (Zechariah 14:4). Thus, He will come back
again from the east! This is also stated in Ezekiel 43:1-5. So,
Jesus's feet at the cross symbolically faced east, and when He
comes back again, His feet will touch on the east side of
Jerusalem. Isn't God's Word just accurate? Also interesting to
note, Judah was camped at the east side, and Jesus came from the
tribe of Judah.
(Excerpt from The Four
Horses by Ilze Henderson)