Numbers 2:1

Numbers 2:1 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,  Verse two adds, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.  God then told Moses and Aaron how the camp  was to be set up when the people of Israel were stopped.  Each man was to pitch his tent with his own standard, which would have the ensign of his fathers house on it.  They were to set up away from the tabernacle, encircling it.  God is still a God of order and not confusion, and He still expects families to gather together.  Verse three states, And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.  God then begins to tell Moses and Aaron how the tribes were to set up around the tabernacle, and who would be the captain of the group.  We may identify as the children of some relative who was a Christian, but we still have God's calling to continue His work today.  God, not Moses and Aaron, decided the order.  We should allow God to decide where we fit in His kingdom today.  The first to be placed was the tribe Judah, with Nahshon as its captain.  They were to be on the east side of the tabernacle.  Verse four continues, And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.  All of the descendants of Judah were to be in this camp.  Verse five says, And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.  Verse six adds, And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.  The house of Issachar was placed next to the house of Judah, and it's captain identified and its number stated. Those placed next to the house of Judah were his closest kin, and this would be the pattern for the rest of the placement.  As Christians, our closest brothers and sisters in Christ should be our closest relatives, because we should spend more time with them naturally.  Verse seven states, Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.  Verse eight adds, And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.  The tribe of Zebulun was next, with their captain named and numbers stated.  Verse nine concludes, All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.  They were to lead out when the people were moving. Though separated by tribe, these three were all counted together as the tribe of Judah.  We today, no matter who our ancestors may be or where we may be in the world, as followers of Christ are still a part of the same family of God, and we need to be where God calls us to be.