In the Torah portion Bemidbar, Num 1:1–4:20, we read about the census, the arrangement of the camp, Aaron’s sons, the duties of the Levites, the redemption of the firstborn and the duties of the Kohathites. What struck me was the detailed order of the camp – and we are thus to learn about and from this order and how we can direct our lives from chaos to order.
This is not a case of first come, first serve, pick a spot and pitch your tent. Detailed instructions are given on exactly where and how the Israelites had to pitch their tents with the tabernacle in the middle of the camp as the focus point. This confirms the instruction given in Ex 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
At the start of creation, the earth was in a condition of chaos (Gen 1:2). Then the Spirit hovered over the waters of chaos and creation was brought forth. Our Creator turned chaos into order. Eden was established, a place of order where man could dwell with our Father in pure shalom.
This same Spirit brought forth life when it entered the nostrils of man and every living being in Eden.
It is also this same Spirit that we encounter in Acts 2, ten days after Ascension Day. A Spirit that turned chaos to order. Where 3000 were killed because of idolatry in Exodus 32:28, the same Spirit imparted the spiritual breath of life to 3000.
As this time of the festival of Shavuot, one of the three foot festivals, “chaos” characterised Jerusalem. Jewish men gathered from every nation under the heaven (Acts2:5). Everyone spoke the language of the country from which he came, so it was quite difficult for people to understand each other or to make themselves understandable to all those speaking other languages. It was like a small Babel, but different tongues did not cause them to drift apart. The obedience to serve our Creator and come up to Jerusalem for Shavuot drew them together in unity despite the diversity in languages. The chaos of all the different languages did not cause division, as the excitement of an appointment with the King of Kings was their drive.
Then, amidst the chaos, suddenly there was the blowing of a wind. This caused the people to get together to view the source and then they heard it: people that exited the upper room were addressing them, each in their native language. The Spirit empowered those in the upper room to bring the gospel of the Kingdom and the Messiah to every person in Jerusalem in their mother tongue, the languages of multiple nations gathered here. No interpreters were needed.
The chaos was turned into order as all heard the same message in their mother tongue. All heard it simultaneously; not one language at a time, but all at once. Unity and order existed in what seemed like chaos for the outsider.
As they heard the message and accepted the Messiah, the Holy Spirit blew the spiritual breath of life into their beings. Jerusalem truly came to life! 3000 believers received a message and a mission to take home and spread in their various nations.
How exciting it must have been to be part of this divine happening, or even merely to have witnessed it! Brothers from different nations hugged and danced with joy: the long-desired Messiah walked in the same dusty roads of Jerusalem and He will return!
All to the glory of God, our Creator, our Father, Our King!
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