Strategically Placed: Discovering God's Purpose in Every Trial, Person, and Season

“Then the Lord gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron:  “When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions will camp beneath their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle, but at some distance from it.”

 (Numbers 2:1-2 NLT)

In Numbers 2, the Israelites are on the journey to the Promised Land.  Leaving Egypt, they will not automatically enter into the Promised Land with ease.  They have a wilderness period to travel through.

Why is that?  And as you see in Numbers 2, if you continue reading, you see that God strategically placed all of the 12 tribes in different positions around the Tabernacle.

1.     Our minds need to be renewed. We have years of the world in our minds before we receive Jesus as Lord.  While we are saved and we have the Holy Spirit within our hearts, which due to that, our hearts are made new.

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This is the Spirit He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs with the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7)

From the years prior, our minds need to be renewed and sanctified.  That takes time, and as we walk with the Lord daily, as we spend time with Him, read the Bible, and worship Him, we are transformed, made new, and sanctified.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

We have wrong beliefs, from those instilled in us by others, our parents, trauma, our own selfish desires, and more.  The Lord needs to renew our minds and reveal truth; His truth is found in His Word.   The truth will set us free!

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

2.     Sin revealed that we may repent, be cleansed, and purified.  Unrepentant sin can be a stumbling block and a hindrance to our path.  Satan blinds us to do just that, hinder us from the intimacy with God that He desires for us.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:2-5)

The Lord does not make it hard; it is easy.  Admit, repent, and receive His forgiveness!  That is it, and it is that easy.

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” (I John 1:5-10)

 We make it difficult, but here’s the catch: you must be sincere.  God knows lip service.

“Therefore, the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.” (Isaiah 29:13)

Next, why were they positioned as they were?

God has a purpose for everything He does and allows.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

(Proverbs 19:21)

We will go through trials; we will have seasons of toiling, our faith stretched in order to grow it, trials to weed out the sins and wrong beliefs.  We will also have seasons of fruitfulness and rest.

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:6-9)

Everything God does has a purpose. Even in the difficult periods, He promises that it will work out for our good!

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

God positioned the 12 tribes in such a way that the strongest and most numerous tribes were at the east, the front of the Tabernacle.  If enemy forces were to come at them, they would meet with the strongest and most numerous tribes first.

The inner circle was the Levites and priests, who were immediately around the Tabernacle to act as a protective buffer.

God, our faith, and a surrendered heart to our Lord and Savior should be first in our hearts and lives.  Our hearts and lives should also be centered around Him.

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Is He first and foremost in your heart?  Are your life and family centered around Him?  If your life is constantly in turmoil, never-ending, then you may want to examine your heart and your spiritual walk.

God tells us to guard our hearts.  What are you allowing through your eye-gate, your ear-gate, and your physical life?  Are you guarding what you see, what you listen to, and the people you hang around with daily? 

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

Is what you do, see, listen to, and who you spend time with a good spiritual influence, or is it damaging?

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”  “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (II Corinthians 6:14-18)

If God is allowing something, a trial, a season, etc., then trust in the overwhelming love of God from the cross of Jesus, and His death on it, and the excruciating pain He went through on our behalf!  Trust in that love, cry out to Him for strength, cry out for wisdom to get through it, cry out to Him to be held.

He will not forsake you; He will not fail you but cause you to make it through victoriously.  If He promised you something, He will fulfill, He will see you through to victory, and it will be better than you can ask, think, or imagine.

The things, the people, the trials and seasons, have all been strategically placed by God.  Trust Him through it; He is worthy of it!

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:10)