Encampment of the 12 Tribes and in order of their marches was in the form of a giant cross.

The desert encampment of the Israelites was laid out in a very specific pattern. In Numbers 2 and 3 we see exactly how the twelve tribes, Levites, Moses and Aaron and his sons and the Tabernacle were all laid out in the form of a gigantic crucifix or cross. With the tribes of Reuben, Simeon and Gad on the South. The tribes of Benjamin, Manasseh and Ephraim on the West. The tribes of Naphtali, Asher and Dan on the North and the tribes of Judah, Issachar and Zebulun on the East. In the exact center of this gigantic cross was the Tabernacle. On the South of the Tabernacle and courtyard Ketath was between the tabernacle and the southern tribes. Gerhon was between the tabernacle and the western tribes. Merrari was between the tabernacle and the tribes on the north. Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east of the Tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting just behind the tribes on the east. Moses and Aaron and his sons were responsible for the care of the sanctuary on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the priests' duties or anyone approached the sanctuary was to be put to death. In this same cross formation, the LORD made Israel wander throughout the wilderness for 40 years until everyone that had started the wilderness march - except Joshua and Caleb had died in the wilderness!

"And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed." Numbers 32:18




Why did the G-d's chosen people have to wander for 40 years?

G-d had sent Moses into the land of Egypt to miraculously save and to rescue His chosen people out of Egyptian bondage. G-d sent 10 terrible plaques that made Pharaoh finally release His chosen people from their terrible bondage. G-d gave his people the wealth of Egypt - then G-d hardened Pharaoh's heart - then G-d opened the Red Sea and then miraculously destroyed Pharaoh's entire army. The chosen people had all seen and personally witnessed G-d's awesome power and might and powerful deliverance. Moses then tells G-d's people that G-d will now give them what He calls the "Promised Land." It is a land flowing with milk and honey.

When the Hebrews came to the outskirts of Canaan, the land that had been promised to them by G-d, after having being miraculously delivered from their terrible slavery in Egypt, Moses sent twelve spies (Hebrew: מרגלים‎, meraglim) into Canaan to report on what was there—one spy representing each of the Twelve Tribes. Ten of the spies returned to say that the land would be impossible to claim, and that giants lived there who would crush the Hebrew people. Only two, Joshua (from the tribe of Ephraim) and Caleb (representing Judah), returned and said that G-d would be able to deliver Canaan into the hands of the Hebrew nation. The Bible records that, because of the negative testimony of ten of the spies, the chosen people chose not to enter Canaan. For this disobedience, G-d caused the unbelievers to wander in the desert for forty years before their children were allowed to enter Canaan and conquer it as their home. The only adult Israelites allowed to survive these marches for forty years and enter Canaan were Joshua and Caleb, this was a reward for their faith in G-d.

Only Joshua and Caleb had confidence in the Lord - Numbers 14:6-9 But the people heeded the bad report, resulting in G-d's condemnation so:
1) Israel was to spend 40 years of wandering in the wilderness Numbers 14:29-34
2) The ten spies died by a plague before the Lord - Numbers 14:36-37
3) Only Joshua and Caleb were spared - Number 14:38


G-d pronounced judgment that the unbelievers should wander in the wilderness for 40 years to match up with the 40 days that they had spied out the land for. G-d then tells Joshua and Caleb that they and the younger generation under 20 years of age would be the only ones to go into the Promised Land because Joshua and Caleb had "wholeheartedly followed G-d" They had full faith and belief in G-d that G-d could defeat all their enemies once they went into the Promised Land to conquer and possess it.

Joshua became the leader that led the survivors into the promised land. Even Moses was not allowed to go into the promised land and Moses died and was buried out in the wilderness. Joshua then took Moses' position as leader of the Israelites. Joshua then enters into the Promised Land with his strong faith in G-d and then proceeds to literally wipe their enemies off the face of the earth and conquer and possess the land that G-d had promised their forefathers.

The Israelites who had not entered into the Promised Land was due to one main reason - they were too scared of the "earthly giants" they heard of (did not even see) in the land that they were supposed to possess and they did not have enough faith in G-d to conquer and defeat these "giants" (who we learn later were living in fear the chosen people were coming!)

After Joshua fully succeeded in his mission, he makes the comment shortly before he died, that G-d had not failed him in any of the promises that G-d had made to him in that G-d would give him every bit of land that he would step foot on. G-d promised Joshua that his enemies would be taken out and that he would be given total victory as long as he stayed with G-d's instructions. Joshua saw his call completely through and when he died, he died a man with his call and mission from G-d completely fulfilled!

Hear the LORD and then step out in faith believing that He is truly faithful!