Musing – What Flag do you Fly?

Hebraic Musing – What Flag do you Fly?

What can we learn from this verse tucked away in the book of Numbers?  “The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting some distance from it, each man under his standard with the banners of his family.”  Numbers 2:2  NIV    The Lord is instructing Moses and Aaron (and us) for the purpose of developing His chosen people for a future.

The Israelites were each assigned specific locations in the camp surrounding the Tabernacle in the center.  God, in His great wisdom, placed each tribe in a space and defined a spiritual role within the nation for each tribe, and for each man.  Each tribe possessed a unique tribal banner or flag.  What was the purpose of the flag?  Why did God command that each tribe possess one?

Throughout the years flags or banners have been a part of history.  They have marched with armies through wars and they have been raised in territories that have been claimed.  They have served as a beacon of pride and ownership of the nations that raised them.  Flags have even been to the moon!

Flags denote our loyalty to a people group and the mission for that group.  Flags people carry and display represent their own particular purpose, loyalty, identity and/or mission.  This is what the nation of Israel needed and desired.  They wanted a flag for each tribe which would define the nature of each tribe and describe its role and mission in the nation.

This clarity of purpose is something to which we can all relate.  One of the most powerful prayers a person can offer is to ask for God to reveal to him or her one’s own personal mission.  At one time or another, many of us have prayed that God would work through us and use us for His purposes; that we would be able to make our own unique and meaningful contribution to the Kingdom of God in a way that only we can. 

Here is how Rabbi Eckstein described God’s plan for each of us.  “When God created us, He had a purpose for us.  Once we understand our personal and unique talents and abilities, life becomes much simpler.  Decisions are easier and we make better life choices.  Ultimately, we live more effective lives, instead of wasting our time on meaningless pursuits.  We have fulfilled and satisfying lives, knowing that we are doing exactly what we have been put here to do.”

If you had a personal flag, what would it look like?  Many of the tribal flags contained colors, animals, objects, or plants.  What might symbolize your life’s mission?  Would creating a visual that encapsulates your life’s goal help keep you focused and living with purpose?  I’d love to see what your flag looks like.

 Points to ponder

What flag or banner do you fly?   What do others see in you?

What is your life’s purpose? 
What do you stand for, fight for, live for and are willing to die for?

♫   There is a flag flying high in the castle of my heart, For the King is in residence there...
         So let it fly in the sky, let the whole world know.… ♫ 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      May 29, 2018

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by and excerpted from Rabbi Eckstein’s “Flying Your Flag” – IFCJ   May 16, 2018