"Who's in Charge Here?" (Numbers)
A recurrent theme in Numbers is this question: “Who’s in charge here?” It begins on a high note. The tabernacle and its furnishings are completed as per God’s instructions. Aaron and the priests are consecrated accordingly. The glory of God, before seen only on the mountain amid thunder and lightning, comes to rest in the tabernacle. They observe their second Passover with the memory of their deliverance from Pharaoh still fresh in their minds. The motley crew who straggled out of Egypt a year earlier is now a mighty army, marching together under the standard of God’s glory. The Ark of the Covenant, symbol of God’s presence, leads the way. It is an impressive sight. They are assembled in camps by tribe, three abreast, surrounding the portable tent of meeting. This always makes me think of the "canvas cathedral" where we worshiped for several years, as you old-timers will recall, and pictured above. “The Lord bless you and keep you,” Aaron says, a beautiful benedi...