Our culture prizes being first, celebrating leaders and those in the front of the pack. Who is following and how they are following is a reflection, not only on those leaders, but also on the group at large.
My nephews grew up playing soccer and it was fun to watch their growth. In the early days, my brother affectionately called it Bee Ball. There was a swarm of youngsters just chasing the ball around the field. Over time, they learned positions and became effective team members.
The Exodus may have looked something like that - a large mass of people swarming across the Red Sea and into the desert towards Sinai. The strong and able would have been in front with the sick, weak or burdened trying to keep up. Those lagging behind or on the fringes found themselves susceptible to attack from marauders or just being left behind to fend for themselves.
Once they arrived at Sinai, God began their maturing process. After all, His people needed to show the world what He was like. He was still going to lead them, but they would move forward in an organized fashion. Some were designated to be in front, some on each side … and the tribe of Dan was to bring up the rear. It was Dan’s job to provide protection from the rear and to gather anything left behind. The Hebrew Bible says they were “collectors” for all the other camps. So each time they moved they would ensure important items wouldn’t be left behind. In keeping with God’s character, they would have also collected people; those who struggled or needed help, ensuring they stayed within the group.
I got to learn this lesson with my feet. As we trekked across Israel, each day a new set of people were assigned to be Dan. No matter where we went, the Dans were last. They not only ensured that everyone got to where we were going, but we never started something new until we could see Dan coming, ensuring our group was complete.
The Dans would notice if a hat got left behind. They would know if someone wasn’t feeling great and be able to provide help or send for someone who could. Sometimes it wasn’t someone needing help or encouragement, but someone needing focus. They had been distracted by something along the way and got behind. My turn as Dan put me closer to people I hadn’t connected with yet. It made me mindful of others’ needs. And it reinforced to me “us.” Our Dans each day were beloved and appreciated for their work on our behalf.
God is revealed in His people. He ensured one of the tribes of Israel protected the weak, who were no longer vulnerable at the back but now surrounded by community. It shows His mercy and His protection of all of us in need. I think we looked a little more like Him to those who met us when they saw the care we had for one another. We had grown – and weren’t just a swarm of individual people. God is revealed in us – as a group. We didn’t all need to be Dan every day, but we needed to have Dans among us. I want to be mindful of when God is asking me to be Dan for someone, even if it means leaving the front of the pack. That’s a hard lesson in this culture, but at least I’ve already started learning with my feet.
Then the banner of the camp of Dan set out, the collector for all the other camps, according to its legions. Numbers 10:25
