I'm still in the midst of the revelations from Genesis, and I'm getting slightly ahead of myself here, but this is something really exciting that I just got to share.
The book of Numbers is called so, because Moses was asked by the Lord to count the number of men according to their tribe.
We find the census being recorded in Numbers 2, as well as how they were to encamp in the wilderness en route to the Promised Land. The tabernacle was located right in the centre (with the Levites), while the 12 tribes were located around it.
Toward the east of the tabernacle were encamped the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. They totalled 186,400.
Toward the south were encamped the tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad, numbering 151,450.
Toward the west were encamped the tribes of Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh. They totalled 108,100.
Finally, toward the north were encamped Dan, Asher and Naphtali totalling 157,600.
These were just the men, so if we include the women and children, the numbers would be multiplied by 3 to 4 times.
But the proportion would be more or less maintained.
But what is of significance is to have a look at what resulted from the way the Israelites were encamped.
The tribes located in the east were larger, while the tribes located in the west were smaller. Those in the north and south were about of equal number.
If you look at the layout, you would notice that it formed a particular shape -- the shape of things to come :-)
Yup, it formed a cross! So we see Jesus not only in the book of Genesis, but throughout the entire Old Testament as well.
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