Justin Houtz

Numbers 2, Romans 2

DateVersionReading Plan
April 29, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Numbers 2

Observation

The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and provided instruction on how the tribes were to be arranged in the camp with the tabernacle at the center. “On the east side, under the flag of Judah, were Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun (vv. 3-9)…On the south side, under the flag of Reuben, were Reuben, Simeon, and Gad (vv. 10–16)” (BBC) Between the arrangement of the south and west side was the encampment of the Levites who were to be in the midst of the camps (Num. 2:17). The arrangement of remaining tribes then continues with “On the west side, under the flag of Ephraim, were Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin (vv. 18–24)…On the north side, under the flag of Dan, were Dan, Asher, and Naphtali (vv. 25–31).” (BBC) In all, the camps and their companies were 603,550 but the Levites were not listed among the people (Num. 2:32-33). As the FSB points out, “The Levites were exempt from military duty, so they were not included in the census.” The people did all that the LORD commanded Moses, setting out each to his own clan, according to his fathers’ house (Num. 2:34).

Application

The exemption from military service meant that the Levites could be wholly dedicated to tabernacle operations. Similar to yesterday’s reflection, devoting an entire Israelite tribe to the tabernacle signifies the centrality of Yahweh worship for this theocratic society. While other tribes were charged with military protection from enemies without, the Levites were to preserve the sanctity of the LORD’s dwelling within. Focus on God was at the heart of all they did and it should be much the same way for us as New Covenant believers. Steadfast shall we remain on guard against attack and committed to the nourishing our our most precious possession: our relationship with Christ.

Romans 2

Observation

Paul focuses much on God’s judgement in this chapter as it relates to both Jew and Gentile. For the latter, he speaks of how although Gentiles do not have the law, some by nature do what the law requires and thus are a law to themselves, showing that the law is written on their hearts. The FSB states that “This suggests that people have a natural moral sense or conscience.”

Application

Reading of this, I was reminded of a sermon by Tim Keller I recently listened to regarding morality in which he spoke of the difference between moral feeling and obligation. As created in God’s image, we alone possess the capacity for moral understanding, guilt and the ability to adjudicate between right and wrong. Everyone—both theist and atheist—are in agreement that man is a moral creature and capable of moral feelings but only the theist has an answer for moral obligation. The argument of the naturalist to ascribe such obligation to evolutionary biology is ultimately untenable as it cannot account for the savage self-preservation of the majority of the natural world. It continues to astound how clearly Scripture states man’s condition and how the rest of the world makes “discoveries” of what has been known for centuries.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for presence and dwelling within us by Your Spirit. Help me to be ever diligent in seeking closeness and intimacy with You by Your Word that I may live in obedience to You. Father, how wonderful is Your Word to provide the truth of Your creation and how gracious are You to give Your children eyes to see its beauty and Your glory.

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