God is detailed and specific. We see Him bring order and organization. In the beginning of the book of Numbers, he calls Moses and Aaron to register the people and directs them on the specific order/placement for how they should camp. The more you read in Numbers, the more lists and inventories, and, well, numbers! It's a bit tedious to read through but I find a sense of purpose in it. Because I am one of those list-makers. Especially as we prepare for our YL camps in August, there are lists, numbers, and inventories galore! Collecting the data, putting together reports and statistics is not everyone's dream job. To be honest, it's not exactly mine either but in the words of my grandmother "that's the way the cookie crumbles". In a culture where there isn't much emphasis on planning ahead, I am the one carrying around a planner and constantly saying, "let me check the calendar" so it makes sense for me to join the ranks of this data, report-making team.
"At God's command through Moses, each man was assigned his work and told what to carry." Numbers 4:48 (The Message)
As we planned teams for camps (speakers, counselors, MC's) names were offered and leaders were notified. I was asked to head-up the work crew and Ivan as camp director (for both camps). I've been typing up the camp schedule and with Ivan, working out the minor details of each game, skit, song. It makes me a bit reminiscent of my teaching days, when there was an expectation to have detailed lesson-plans, outlining each moment, goal, and activity. Camp is a bit like that. We have a very clear goal, to give very camper the opportunity to know Christ. So, as we plan the camp's activities, that goal is central in our minds. How can each game, meal, song, message work towards that goal?
Moses handed out the assignments, given by God, and the people stepped into their roles. It would be great to say, "and they all lived happily-ever-after". If you've heard the story, then you know that the people wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and those years had their fair share of bickering, arguing, and division. It turns out some people didn't like their assignment or thought they deserved something "better" or more prestigious. Some even desired to go back to their days of slavery.
"Soon they were all saying it to one another, "Let's pick a new leader; let's head back to Egypt" Numbers 14:4 (The Message) Sometimes in the midst of the numbers and the lists, we can lose sight of the goal. God had prepared a new land for them, a land of abundance, but they stopped looking towards the goal. They started to look backwards instead. They started to quarrel and question the leadership. Right now, camp fits nicely onto 10 pieces of paper. Materials are organized into tubs, separated into bags, clearly labeled for each activity. I'm working through my checklist and it feels good! The reality is that as soon as we arrive on the campsite, the chaos will begin, materials will get misplaced, lines will be forgotten, microphones might stop working, and that's when I become like the Israelites in the wilderness, pleading to go back. Muttering, bickering, tired, and losing sight of the goal. Oh Lord, may it not be so! I pray that I would not be so quick to forget why we do what we do. That I would be faithful in my assignment and that the love of Christ would be in the center.
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