The God of Order
Today was a fairly full day. After my normal Tuesday prayer/devotional meeting was an annual meeting for Assemblies of God ministers in Northern Colorado. It was good to see many friends and missionaries at the event. Later this afternoon, I had a massage. I’m not sure if it was my schedule or the last two days or the effectiveness of the massage, but I needed a nap when it was over.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: “The Israelites are to camp under their respective banners beside the flags of their ancestral houses. They are to camp around the tent of meeting at a distance from it….” Numbers 2:1 HCSB
When Paul was writing to the Corinthians about proper worship and the use of spiritual gifts he observed, “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace...all things should be done decently and in order.“ (1 Corinthians 14:33,340 ESV)
We see in scripture that God is a God of order and organization. It is first observed in creation, “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1 ESV) From this void God speaks light into existence, then water appears and the expanse of the heavens and then dry land and vegetation and sea creatures and animals and man. All of them in the proper order.
As God’s people begin their trek through the wilderness to the promised land, God provides them the law, by which the will worship, please and honor Him. He then provides instructions on how they are to travel. How do two million people make an organized trip? It can be a challenge in our day, to coordinate a road trip with two or three cars filled with people!
One of the things a school teacher does with a class on a “field trip” is to count “heads” to make sure he or she knows who is going and makes sure they all make it to the destination. It is interesting that the Book of Numbers begins with Moses, “counting heads.” The Lord tells Moses, “Take a census of the entire Israelite community by their clans and their ancestral houses…” (Numbers 1:2 HCSB) One man from each tribe is selected as the leader for this effort.
We see that after all the instructions are given about the Tabernacle, an order is given of how the tribes of Israel are to camp around the Tabernacle. Three tribes form a division on the east, west, north and south. The tribes closest to the Tabernacle are the Levites, who are in charge of the transporting and protecting the Tabernacle.
They stop and encamp in a specific order and they break camp and journey in a special order. Each tribe has its own banner. The Lord provides guidelines for specific trumpet calls that signal instruction to the people. This includes when to set up camp, when to break camp and begin the journey, and when to prepare for battle.
We can all become frustrated with human organizational rules and structures, whether in society or the church. But the reality is the more people and the greater the task, the more organization is needed to avoid confusion and chaos. This is pleasing to the Lord. We realize that “human” organizations can become rigid and ineffective and it is easy to lose sight that the organization is to serve and not be served; but basic order versus chaos is the difference between God and Satan.
I believe you could make a case that ineffective organization is as much the fault of human depravity and spiritual battles, as much as a state of confusion.
We read in James, “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (James 3:14-16 ESV)
Satan is a created being, not a creator. As a result, he works against the creative nature of God. Satan, “steals, kills and destroys.” (John 10:10) God builds, Satan tears down. God beings order, Satan brings chaos and confusion. God brings peace, Satan brings conflict. These things may be directly related to the work of spiritual darkness or they may be evidence of sinfulness of people. Either way, they are in contrast to what God desires and should be recognized as such.
We need to remember and recognize God’s order around us in nature and value godly order that promotes efficiency and effectiveness in doing God’s work. We can also seek the Lord to bring order in the midst of chaos, peace where there is conflict and light where there is darkness. It is all part of His divine nature.