They couldn’t get close — something I read said about 3 football fields away — but they could get centered. Too dangerous to be adjacent, but too important not to be aligned. While they couldn’t go face-to-face with the glory of God, they were expected to be facing it.

The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.”

(Numbers 2:1-2 ESV)

Facing the tent of meeting . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning.

The tent of meeting. The place where the glory of God dwelt in the midst of His people. A pillar of cloud over it by day, a pillar of fire by night. The place where “the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Ex. 33:11), yet the place from which the rank-and-file needed to keep their distance. But distance didn’t preclude direction.

When it was time for Israel to pitch its collective tents at night, the Levites camped around the tabernacle — “so that there may be no wrath on the congregation” (Num. 21:53) — and the twelve tribes camped around the Levites. Three tribes to the east of the tent of meeting, three tribes to the south, three tribes to the west and three tribes to the north. All at a distance, lest the glory consume them, and yet all to be directed — facing the tent of meeting.

Every tent flap from the 186,000+ tents of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun pointed towards the west. All the front doors of the 151,000+ tents of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad opening towards the north. Each front porch of the 108,000+ front porches of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin pointing east. All the welcome mats of the 157,000+ homes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali welcoming to the south. Everyone — like, everyone — facing the tent of meeting.

How big a deal was being oriented to the place where the glory of God dwelt? Pretty big!

And it would continue throughout Israel’s history. When they prayed, wherever they prayed from, they would face Jerusalem, the place where the temple stood and the glory of God dwelt. Such a big deal for the ancient people of God to camp facing the tent of meeting.

And I think to myself, “Self, why are you so not concerned with facing the right way when it comes to facing the glory?” Because . . .

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

(2Corinthians 4:6 ESV)

In Christ, I’m always aligned to the glory. Not from afar, but up close and personal. Me abiding in Him, and He in me (Jn. 15:4). Not needing to face the tent but resting and rejoicing in the reality that I am the tent (1Cor. 3:16-17).

Able always to be centered. To be aligned. To be near. Always able to be facing the glory as, through my union with Christ, by faith I can look into the face of Jesus.

By His grace. For His glory.