A Thought on Association and Influence

[Stewart (SDA)]

Yesterday I worked with a thought and wondered whether others here might also be interested in this kind of thing.

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Not long ago the Sabbath School lesson focused on the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And even more recently on the events that occurred when Israel succumbed to the temptations of Baal-peor.

There are many truths that might be drawn from these incidents.

But now a point of interest arises, which ties [at least in part] those incidents together.

Briefly recall a detail relating to Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who led in that rebellion which ultimately cost the lives of about 15,000 people. (Num 16:35, 49.)

Korah belonged to that honored division of the Levites which had charge of the Ark and of the other items of ‘furniture’ within the Sanctuary building (Num 2:31).

Korah was a Kohathite. Dathan and Abiram belonged to the tribe of Reuben. (Num 16:1)

Recall another detail now, that pertained to the matter of Baal-peor. (Num 25)

The man that brought the Midianitish woman into the camp “in the sight of all the congregation” was a man named Zimri, and Zimri was a noble of the tribe of Simeon -- “a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.” (25:14). On that day 24,000 people died as a direct result of Israel’s bold venture into pagan worship.

But not long after that, another tragedy of lesser moment occurs. The people of Gad and Reuben respectfully come to Moses (and to the leaders of Israel), and they come requesting that they might be allowed to remain on the EASTERN side of the Jordan, and not cross over into Canaan.

Because the tribes of Gad and Reuben had much cattle, and the eastern side suited cattle very well, they ask, “If we have found grace in thy sight, let this [Eastern] land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us NOT over Jordan.” (32:1-5)

Moses remonstrates with them, but after offering them a compromise, the people of Reuben and Gad are granted permission to settle on those Eastern pastures. Herein lay a tragedy of lesser proportions.

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But now to me there is an interesting link between all these events.

When the tribes of Israel were camped, they were arranged in strict order. (As a result, their associations, and thus their influences upon each other were, in a sense, limited.)

Of course the Sanctuary lay at the center of the camp.

Around the Sanctuary were camped the Levites, and beyond them the 12 tribes were arranged in 4 distinct quarters – East, South, West, and North. (See Num 2.)

On the Southern quarter was the camp of the Kohathites – the honored division of the Levites which had the charge of the Ark and the Sanctuary ‘furnishings’ (Num 3:31).

Beyond them, on that Southern quarter, were the three tribes previously mentioned -- Reuben, Simeon, and Gad.

Now it appears that it was this Southern quarter that presented Israel with almost all its leaders in rebellion up to this point.

And the plagues that came in consequence to those rebellions did not fall upon the people in a random distribution. On each of those occasions, the tribes that were most guilty bore the greater weight of woe. This fact is borne out by the two numberings that were conducted in Israel.

The first numbering (or census) was carried out on that original generation that left Egypt.

The second numbering took place soon after the tragedy of Baal-peor, not many days before they finally crossed over the Jordan. [it was then found that only Caleb, Joshua (and at that point, Moses) remained of the original generation that had left Egypt. (26:63-5).]

The total figures on both numberings were not very different. (603,550 men at the 1st numbering, compared to 601,730 for the 2nd numbering.)

But when we compare the totals for each of the quarters, we find a significant difference.

The Eastern quarter had Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. Their numbers had increased by 14,900.

(From 186,400 men to 201,300 men)

The Northern quarter had Asher, Dan, and Naphtali. They increased by 5,600.

(From 157,600 to 163,200)

And on the West were Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. They increased by 22,700.

(From 108,100 to 130,800)

But the Southern quarter is very different.

Each of the other quarters had increased, but the company of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad have decreased by 45,020. Each of these 3 tribes had suffered loss. But Simeon has lost more than 60% of its men! From the 3rd most populous (59,300) it has fallen to the very bottom (22,200).

In those days the prosperity of the tribes was intimately tied to their loyalty to God.

That prince of Simeon who was emboldened to publicly bring the woman into the camp, died justly at the hand of the high priest’s son. But the man’s sin was not only the result of sudden temptation. His action was indicative of a long-term decline in the tribe as a whole. Of all the tribes, Simeon appears to have suffered from the curses of disobedience the most.

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Now the work of the Levites did not relate exclusively to their physical duties pertaining to the Sanctuary. The Levites also bore a responsibility among the people [primarily, on their own quarter], to teach and exhort the people. However, the tribes that the Kohathites had a degree of responsibility for (namely, Simeon, Reuben, and Gad) had fallen heavily.

Korah had been a senior man among the Levites. He was a Kohathite -- direct grandson to Kohath, and thus great-grandson to Levi.

Korah had come with men of Reuben to contend with Moses over the governance of Israel.

Later, Gad had come with Rueben, requesting that they might not cross the Jordan into the land of promise.

And Simeon was, it appears, the boldest of the tribes in the matter of Baal-peor.

These events were, I suggest, indicative of the problems that were prevalent, most especially in that Southern quarter of the camp. Through association and influence the South had become a virtual den of iniquity, and those that should have had the immediate oversight, failed to fulfill their role, and in fact they had encouraged dissatisfaction and rebellion.

Association and influence play a major part in our spirituality. Let us always be mindful of the fact, and take care, for he that loves his brother and his neighbor more than Christ is not worthy of Christ. (Matt 10:37, Lk 14:26)

Note.

God afterward showed the tribe of Simeon significant mercies. Having become the weakest, and the most vulnerable of the tribes, God worked so that Simeon's "inheritance [the land He allotted them] was [encompassed] within the inheritance of the children of Judah", the strongest of the tribes. (Josh 19:1)

Also, when the blessing and the curses were pronounced, Simeon, having been deeply humbled, is first to be named when the command was given:

“These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin” (Deut 27:12). Simeon, the tribe most ravaged by the curses of disobedience, was to pronounce that blessing which would, upon condition of obedience, bring an abundant increase of children. (Deut 28:4)

Then by Divine order Reuben and Gad are mentioned first among the tribes that would pronounce the curses which must come upon men for disobedience.

This arrangement, I have no doubt, carried impressive weight and spoke eloquently to the people.

Stewart