IN THE WILDERNESS WITH ISRAEL’S ARMY
Moses was commanded by God to take a census of the Army of Israel. Captains were put over each division and there were three tribes stationed on all four sides of The Wilderness Tabernacle, with the Levite priests living between the army and the tabernacle. Families camped with the heads of their households within their divisions and tribes. All of the tents of each family faced the tabernacle. The Tabernacle of God was the heart of the camp, the people and the army of Israel.
The tribes of Israel’s army camped to the East of the wilderness tabernacle were; Judah, Issacar and Zebulun. Their captains were Nahshon, Nethanel and Eliab.
The area on the south of the wilderness tabernacle was flanked by the tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad. The leader of this division of the south was headed up by Elizar of the tribe of Reuben. Two more tribes were under Reuben’s division. These were Simeon and Gad.
The leader that God chose to command Simeon’s army was named Shelumiel.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our every-Thursday on-line bible study called COME AS A CHILD.
We are walking together very slowly through the books of the bible taking one page and one line and one word at a time. Hurry is a word we do not use on this journey. Our minds are functioning with the heart and wonder of a young child seeking to follow their father on a great adventure. We are never in a hurry here. Our pace is set to move however and whenever our Father leads us.
Today we are studying from The Book of Numbers, Chapter 2. If you need to review last week’s lesson you may find it here: https://theinseasonlifestyle.com/god-brings-his-order-to-his-people-come-as-a-child-lesson-244/.
THE TRIBE OF SIMEON IN THE FORMATION OF THE ARMY
Today we will focus on the tribe of Simeon.
God told Moses to appoint Shelumiel, Son of Zurishaddai to be the captain over this tribe of the Army of Israel. Shelumiel was the leader of 59,300 men.
So; who was this man named Shelumiel?
Why did God chose him as leader over the tribe of Simeon?
Let’s look at what we know of Shelumiel, Son of Zurishaddai of the tribe of Simeon.
MEETING SHELUMIEL
Remember how we previously noted that the name of a man is very important?
The El in Shelumiel translates as “God.”
The “i” before it shows personal possessive speech, which would give us the translation of “my shelum is God.”
The word shelum is a derivative of “shalom” which means “peace.” So; the whole name of Shelumiel translates to mean “My peace is God.”
MY PEACE IS GOD
I guess one might think it a bit strange to be thinking about “peace” and then speaking about a person whose name means “my peace is God” who is busy leading a division of an army.
What on earth could be peaceful about that?
Aren’t all armies about war; not peace?
Yes; they are; but if you ask any of the greatest leaders who have commanded mighty armies, they will tell you that the very best time to pick out leadership for your army is during a time of peace.
At the moment these leaders were being chosen by God through Moses; the nation of Israel was not in a war.
They were at last experiencing freedom and living together in peace.
NOT CHOSEN FOR A PEACEFUL MISSION
Though the nation was presently at peace; the leaders being chosen were chosen for their abilities to wage war against the enemies of God. It wasn’t that they and/or God didn’t desire peace. It was that they knew it was not going to happen without war.
How do you maintain peace at all times? By constantly waging war against the enemies of God.
God always brings us peace; but the enemies of God always try to guard against such a peace.
PREPARING TO FACE THE OPPOSITION
These armies of Israel were moving towards a Promised Land. They were moving to this place seeking peace; but they knew they were going to face opposition in the beginning.
Anytime you are moving in obedience to God; you are going to encounter opposition from the enemies of God.
God had shown Moses that the best time to prepare for war was during a time of peace.
A time of peace allows you to look carefully at all of the full abilities of your leaders and choose wisely and not act in haste.
You have more time to train and strengthen your army when you are still living from a place in peace.
There is time to plan a battle strategy.
God was giving these leaders their titles at an early point in time so that they could be better prepared for the future. This is how God always keeps time; never too early, never too late.
The preparation for many of these men chosen to lead their tribe’s armies had begun happening even sooner than this time of their appointments to the position as army leaders. Many of them were of the counsel that Moses had set up at Jethro’s suggestion when Moses had become overwhelmed with the amount of daily decisions to be made for all of the people in the tribes.
GOD EQUIPS THOSE WHOM HE CALLS
These men had already gained valuable experience with counseling the people in the matters of the laws of God as they were helping Moses in his counsel.
They already had the respect of the people; even before God through Moses designated them as captains of their tribe’s armies.
The judgement of these leaders was already well respected by the people of their own tribes.
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