Someone has to Go First

All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their division, number 186,400. They will set out first.

Numbers 2:9

As the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, picking up their tents as the Lord led them, one tribe always had to go first. And the tribe God chose to leave the Israelites was Judah. From this same tribe would come a great leader whose heart was after God’s own heart, David, another leader who would build the tabernacle and be filled with wisdom, Solomon, and eventually the Son of God himself, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, Jesus.

But when you are out in the wilderness, not knowing who or what you will meet, it’s difficult to take the first step. However, someone always has to go first or nothing good will come either. So Judah, led. They led the people of God around the wilderness for 40 years, but always following the direction of God.

When God calls us out into the wilderness, leading us on our own path, someone always has to go first, someone always has to take that first step. If no one led, we’d still be in the same place. If no one led, we’d over populate a region and we wouldn’t have enough of anything for all. If no one led, we wouldn’t have cures for diseases. If no one led, no one would be saved, no one would hear the gospel preached.

How, then, can they call on one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.“

Romans 10:14-15

The Israelites were told they would be the ones that would point all the world to the true God, and if they hadn’t moved around, how would anyone have known. Same goes for us and all we do, if someone doesn’t go first, how will anyone know? So maybe it’s time we stop asking who will do something, but instead, we step out into the unknown first. We keep our head up and our eyes on Jesus, and we walk faithfully, trusting God to lead the way. Just think, what God can do, if we just step out in faith, we step out first, and follow his lead.