Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Today's reading in Numbers 10 and 11 tells of the silver trumpets ordered by God to signal assemblies, setting out and battle formations.  They actually set out in prescribed order, each tribe under its standard and each family from the tribe of Levi caring for the parts of the tabernacle assigned to it.  The cloud of the Lord guides them day and night -- appearing as fire at night.

The descriptions remind me of a well planned and executed military campaign.  Everyone is accounted for and has an assignment.  I imagine that even in the military, there are malcontents -- people who object to the marching orders, the rations, the leadership.  The children of Israel are no different.  Well, maybe the fact that they travel with their women, children and old folks? That cannot be easy.