The Israelites continue to have problems with authority. They have lost faith in Moses and Aaron. So God has to restore their faith.
God has a leader of each of the 12 tribes bring a staff to place in front of the Ark of the Covenant. One of the staffs, the one that belonged to Aaron, has a plant grow out of it while it is sitting there. This is taken as a sign to all of Israel that God has chosen Aaron to be an unquestioned leader.
Being a religious leader is a hard job. In one sense, it is important to listen to the people and allow their vision to shape the present and future. On the other hand, it is more important to listen to what God has to say, because it is God's church.
I think that we can all agree with the last couple sentences... but what makes it hard is that God doesn't speak as loud and clear as the people. And often, the direction from God goes against the direction of the people. Humans think earthly thoughts while God thinks heavenly thoughts... but earthly thoughts make much more sense.
And how can anyone be sure that God is talking to them? How was Moses and Aaron sure? Some people that have claimed to have heard from God often begin their story with taking drugs.
That doesn't mean that God doesn't speak to us. I think that God still speaks in many ways. We are just too busy to hear.
Moses sat alone on Mt. Sinai for 7 days before God showed up with the 10 Commandments.
Sometimes we just need to slow down and pray. And in our prayer we need to stop talking and start listening.
Otherwise we might just run this thing aground.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Numbers 16
After church on Sunday I came home and waited for Michelle's flight to come in. I had a few hours to do nothing so I sat on the couch and turned on the TV... but there was nothing on. Well, there was nothing on except Titanic. So I sat on the couch with my dog and cat and watched Titanic for the first time on 10 years. I forgot how good the movie was. I forgot how sad the ending was... and why did that lady throw that diamond back in to the ocean? She could have fed millions of people with it. She was not a very good steward!
What was so sad was the 1,500 people who died, who didn't have a chance.
In this chapter, almost 15,000 people die. 15,000 of God's own people. Why? Because they are fed up with the leadership, Moses and Aaron. When things aren't going well it is easy to blame the people in charge.
So God kills them... the divine iceberg.
The ground opens up and swallows some. Then a fire comes from heaven and burns a couple hundred of them. Then a plague comes and takes out 14,000.
God kills a lot of people in the Old Testament. I am sure James Cameron could make an incredibly sad movie that makes God out to be the most sinister criminal in the universe. Actually, Cecil B. Demille made a movie like that, the 10 Commandments, but we don't really care about all the innocent Egyptians that were killed.
God realizes that killing people is not an effective way of motivating. People do not respond well to bullying, but they respond to love. Which is why God sent Jesus. And in the killing of Jesus the world was able to better understand God.
I'm sorry Michelle Bachmann, but God is out of the business of using hurricanes and earthquakes to make a point.
God's business is love, and it always will be.
What was so sad was the 1,500 people who died, who didn't have a chance.
In this chapter, almost 15,000 people die. 15,000 of God's own people. Why? Because they are fed up with the leadership, Moses and Aaron. When things aren't going well it is easy to blame the people in charge.
So God kills them... the divine iceberg.
The ground opens up and swallows some. Then a fire comes from heaven and burns a couple hundred of them. Then a plague comes and takes out 14,000.
God kills a lot of people in the Old Testament. I am sure James Cameron could make an incredibly sad movie that makes God out to be the most sinister criminal in the universe. Actually, Cecil B. Demille made a movie like that, the 10 Commandments, but we don't really care about all the innocent Egyptians that were killed.
God realizes that killing people is not an effective way of motivating. People do not respond well to bullying, but they respond to love. Which is why God sent Jesus. And in the killing of Jesus the world was able to better understand God.
I'm sorry Michelle Bachmann, but God is out of the business of using hurricanes and earthquakes to make a point.
God's business is love, and it always will be.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Numbers 15
I do not like the God of Numbers.
In this chapter God tells Moses the sacrifices that must be when the community sins. God breaks these sins into 2 categories, the unintentional sins and those done in defiance.
If you were caught being defiant, you were to be cut off from the people... sent away to live alone.
Then they catch a man collecting wood on the sabbath, and God tells Moses to stone him, so they do. What happened to being cast away? They go straight to stoning? For collecting wood? Maybe his family was cold or he liked to whittle.
If the only God we knew was the God of Numbers, then I would be doing something else right now.
But Numbers isn't the only peek we have behind the curtain. We have the gospels, which gives a whole different view of God.
Which makes me ask the question, did Moses misunderstand?
I sure hope so.
In this chapter God tells Moses the sacrifices that must be when the community sins. God breaks these sins into 2 categories, the unintentional sins and those done in defiance.
If you were caught being defiant, you were to be cut off from the people... sent away to live alone.
Then they catch a man collecting wood on the sabbath, and God tells Moses to stone him, so they do. What happened to being cast away? They go straight to stoning? For collecting wood? Maybe his family was cold or he liked to whittle.
If the only God we knew was the God of Numbers, then I would be doing something else right now.
But Numbers isn't the only peek we have behind the curtain. We have the gospels, which gives a whole different view of God.
Which makes me ask the question, did Moses misunderstand?
I sure hope so.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Numbers 14
In Numbers 14 the Israelites complain because they can not yet go to the promised land. They are sick of living in tents and walking in the wilderness... they are ready to build homes and grow crops.
They are ready for something else.
God is not ready for them to be doing something else... God has a plan.
The Israelites are not fond of God's plan, so they have a little tantrum. They say that life was better in Egypt and that God is a big dummy.
Well, God doesn't like that and decides he wants to wipe them all out. Moses talks God out of that idea. It's like a mother talking a father out of a severe punishment for a child. Instead God kills just a few, but promises that none of the complainers will see the promised land... they will all die on the journey.
The moral of the story? God has more experience being God than we do.
Let God be God.
They are ready for something else.
God is not ready for them to be doing something else... God has a plan.
The Israelites are not fond of God's plan, so they have a little tantrum. They say that life was better in Egypt and that God is a big dummy.
Well, God doesn't like that and decides he wants to wipe them all out. Moses talks God out of that idea. It's like a mother talking a father out of a severe punishment for a child. Instead God kills just a few, but promises that none of the complainers will see the promised land... they will all die on the journey.
The moral of the story? God has more experience being God than we do.
Let God be God.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Numbers 13
Moses sends a group of men into the promised land to explore. They find out what kind of fruit can grow and if the soil is fertile and they find out what kind of people live there and what kind of battle they are up against.
They report back 40 days later that the land is good for growing crops, but the people that live there are powerful with fortified cities. The one of the men, Caleb, silenced the people before Moses and said "we should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." (Verse 30)
Caleb is my kind of guy. Caleb thinks big, even if he is dead wrong. You have to love his enthusiasm!
The Israelites do go and take possession of the land, they are able to do it. But not in Caleb's timeframe, they do it in God's timeframe... many years later.
The church needs people like Caleb, with boldness and enthusiasm.
And the church needs committees that move slower and do their homework before making a bad decision.
And the church needs God to guide us. Even when we aren't asking for guidance we need to be looking for it.
When it all comes together the church can do amazing things.
They report back 40 days later that the land is good for growing crops, but the people that live there are powerful with fortified cities. The one of the men, Caleb, silenced the people before Moses and said "we should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." (Verse 30)
Caleb is my kind of guy. Caleb thinks big, even if he is dead wrong. You have to love his enthusiasm!
The Israelites do go and take possession of the land, they are able to do it. But not in Caleb's timeframe, they do it in God's timeframe... many years later.
The church needs people like Caleb, with boldness and enthusiasm.
And the church needs committees that move slower and do their homework before making a bad decision.
And the church needs God to guide us. Even when we aren't asking for guidance we need to be looking for it.
When it all comes together the church can do amazing things.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Numbers 12
Verse 3 "Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth."
Some people believe that Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible, including Numbers. If that is true, then Moses also wrote this verse, claiming to be the most humble person on the planet.
Claiming to be the most humble person on the planet is an oxy-moron. Either Moses didn't write Numbers or he was not the most humble man on the planet.
What does it mean to be humble? Let me tell you, because I am the most humble person in Tarrant County!
Wikipedia says that humility is 3 things:
1. Submitting to God and legitimate authority
2. Recognizing talents in others and giving due honor
3. Recognizing the limits of our own talents
Humility is hard. I don't like anyone telling me what to do... I had enough of that growing up with 2 older sisters. I don't like admitting someone else is better than me and I like being good at everything. (Which I'm not, but sometimes pretend to be)
But I have to think bigger than me... I have to think we.
If we are going to thrive as a church, a community and nation. Then we need humble people. We need people that submit to authority... we need people in authority that submit to the will of the people. We need to affirm the gifts in everyone and we need to realize what we aren't good at.
Our future does not come in realizing our own greatness, but in realizing our weaknesses. And having the courage to whatever it takes to turn our weakness into a strength.
One person at a time.
Some people believe that Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible, including Numbers. If that is true, then Moses also wrote this verse, claiming to be the most humble person on the planet.
Claiming to be the most humble person on the planet is an oxy-moron. Either Moses didn't write Numbers or he was not the most humble man on the planet.
What does it mean to be humble? Let me tell you, because I am the most humble person in Tarrant County!
Wikipedia says that humility is 3 things:
1. Submitting to God and legitimate authority
2. Recognizing talents in others and giving due honor
3. Recognizing the limits of our own talents
Humility is hard. I don't like anyone telling me what to do... I had enough of that growing up with 2 older sisters. I don't like admitting someone else is better than me and I like being good at everything. (Which I'm not, but sometimes pretend to be)
But I have to think bigger than me... I have to think we.
If we are going to thrive as a church, a community and nation. Then we need humble people. We need people that submit to authority... we need people in authority that submit to the will of the people. We need to affirm the gifts in everyone and we need to realize what we aren't good at.
Our future does not come in realizing our own greatness, but in realizing our weaknesses. And having the courage to whatever it takes to turn our weakness into a strength.
One person at a time.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Numbers 11
What a chapter!
The people complain about not having meat to eat and they long for the days when they were slaves, because they had meat.
God replies," if meat is what you want then meat is what you'll get. I'll give you so much meat that it comes through your nostrils and you loathe it."
Then God sends quails and the people finally eat meat... and they die from it. Because (v.33) "the anger of the Lord burned against the people."
Our book group just met here in my office. During the conversation we started talking about the Old Testament. One person said that she did a year study on the OT, and didn't like it at all. This chapter is a perfect reason why it is hard to like the OT.
God kills people for complaining about eating the same thing everyday for years... manna.
Well, I probably would complain too. There is nothing that I would want to eat everyday for years. (Maybe pizza, but it would have to be really good)
So God kills them.
What then are we to say when God acts like a jerk? When God does things that are unlike God?
Do we say "well, don't complain." Easier said than done. Everyone complains eventually. I get a number of emails every day complaing about our president. (By the way, please take me off your list if you are sending them to me, they do no good for our country. Instead they widen the divide between our parties.)
*Funny sidenote: I picked Michelle up from the airport last night and as usual we had to leave through the toll booths. In front of us was a car that had a bumper-sticker with the word IDIOT on it, but it was made to look like the Obama symbol. What's funny is this car was in the toll tag only line and had no toll tag. They were trying to pay cash, but there was no one in the booth. It made me laugh really hard. If you are going to publicly announce that someone else is an idiot, you should do everything you can to not look like an idiot. Or as someone else put it, "it takes one to know one." This has nothing to do with politics, and has everything to do with complainers.
But there is no grace in standing behind the puplit every Sunday and telling people not to complain. Because there is a lot to complain about.
Life is rough. People are starving to death in Africa, our economy is in the gutter and there is violence all over the news.
And so we complain. But complaining doesn't do any good.
If you don't like the way the world is, do something about it.
God did.
He let the complainers nail him to a cross.
The people complain about not having meat to eat and they long for the days when they were slaves, because they had meat.
God replies," if meat is what you want then meat is what you'll get. I'll give you so much meat that it comes through your nostrils and you loathe it."
Then God sends quails and the people finally eat meat... and they die from it. Because (v.33) "the anger of the Lord burned against the people."
Our book group just met here in my office. During the conversation we started talking about the Old Testament. One person said that she did a year study on the OT, and didn't like it at all. This chapter is a perfect reason why it is hard to like the OT.
God kills people for complaining about eating the same thing everyday for years... manna.
Well, I probably would complain too. There is nothing that I would want to eat everyday for years. (Maybe pizza, but it would have to be really good)
So God kills them.
What then are we to say when God acts like a jerk? When God does things that are unlike God?
Do we say "well, don't complain." Easier said than done. Everyone complains eventually. I get a number of emails every day complaing about our president. (By the way, please take me off your list if you are sending them to me, they do no good for our country. Instead they widen the divide between our parties.)
*Funny sidenote: I picked Michelle up from the airport last night and as usual we had to leave through the toll booths. In front of us was a car that had a bumper-sticker with the word IDIOT on it, but it was made to look like the Obama symbol. What's funny is this car was in the toll tag only line and had no toll tag. They were trying to pay cash, but there was no one in the booth. It made me laugh really hard. If you are going to publicly announce that someone else is an idiot, you should do everything you can to not look like an idiot. Or as someone else put it, "it takes one to know one." This has nothing to do with politics, and has everything to do with complainers.
But there is no grace in standing behind the puplit every Sunday and telling people not to complain. Because there is a lot to complain about.
Life is rough. People are starving to death in Africa, our economy is in the gutter and there is violence all over the news.
And so we complain. But complaining doesn't do any good.
If you don't like the way the world is, do something about it.
God did.
He let the complainers nail him to a cross.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Numbers 10
Verse 9: "(The Lord said) When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies."
Let me get this right... when an oppressive enemy is attacking I have to blow a trumpet so that God will remember me? God isn't watching while they are attacking? I don't know how to play a trumpet. I've tried and I can't even get the thing to make a noise.
What is God doing in the meantime? Taking a nap? Watching the Family Feud? Shouldn't God be paying attention and there to rescue me before my enemies attack?
A lot of the Old Testament speaks about a God that I don't know. The God I do know is the God revealed in Jesus Christ. A God that doesn't rescue us from each other... A God that didn't even rescue His son from the executioner.
Instead God rescues from that which we can not defeat... ourselves. And the consequences for our actions. God rescues us from sin, death and the devil.
The 3 most oppressive enemies we will ever face.
Lucky for us we don't even need the trumpet... just faith.
Let me get this right... when an oppressive enemy is attacking I have to blow a trumpet so that God will remember me? God isn't watching while they are attacking? I don't know how to play a trumpet. I've tried and I can't even get the thing to make a noise.
What is God doing in the meantime? Taking a nap? Watching the Family Feud? Shouldn't God be paying attention and there to rescue me before my enemies attack?
A lot of the Old Testament speaks about a God that I don't know. The God I do know is the God revealed in Jesus Christ. A God that doesn't rescue us from each other... A God that didn't even rescue His son from the executioner.
Instead God rescues from that which we can not defeat... ourselves. And the consequences for our actions. God rescues us from sin, death and the devil.
The 3 most oppressive enemies we will ever face.
Lucky for us we don't even need the trumpet... just faith.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Numbers 9
In Numbers 9 the Lord tells Moses that the people are to observe the celebration of the Passover. In verse 14 God said "A foreigner among you is also to celebrate the Lord's Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born."
As Christians we no longer celebrate the Passover, but we do celebrate Christmas and Easter. All of America celebrates Christmas and Easter... at least every one used to.
Kids still get the day of school and most businesses are closed but people complained about it being called Christmas or Easter break, so now it is known as winter vacation or spring break or some variation of those words. (I never heard a kid complain about having time off of school though)
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Some would say it's bad and argue that we should never shorten Christmas to X-mas. Some would say it is good because the church and state should be separated and since schools are institutions of the state they should remain religiously neutral.
Either way, God doesn't care what the break is called. God cares about how we spend the break. God desires all people to worship because of the profound meaning of the holidays.
God coming to earth in human form as a baby and God choosing to die on a cross and being raised from death is a big deal.
God wants it to be a big deal for all Americans, and all the world. It's the church's mission to make that happen.
Arguing about what to call the break isn't going to help.
Telling people why we take the break will.
(Random thought of the day: If Moses looked anything like Charlton Heston, then he really could have been Santa's skinny brother)
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Numbers 8
In chapter 8 God tells Moses more about what he expects of the Levites. They must be purified by shaving their whole body and they have to wear clean clothes and they have to retire at 50.
I wonder if anyone in the Israelite camp questioned whether God was really talking to Moses all this time or if the old man was making some stuff up. And how did Moses feel about being the only God talks to? I can imagine it now... "Hey guys, God spoke to me again. Y'all need to shave your whole body and wash your clothes." And then some get disgruntled... "but I was working on a cool moustache."
But here comes the good part..."God said y'all get to retire at 50." And they all cheered.
How nice is that? To be able to retire at 50. And it's not an option, once they turn 50 they are done working. The text says they may "assist" others, but they no longer have any responsibility.
Today is my first blog from my new office. We finally got our internet problem solved! So here I sit, on my new office chair at my new desk typing on my kind of new computer. Surrounded by all this new stuff it's hard for to me even grasp the concept of retirement. I hope to get there someday... Unfortunately the expected age for people to retire keeps getting pushed back, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 80 by the time it's my turn. (Hopefully the market will come back by then)
Why does God make this requirement?
Because it is good for people to retire. People were not created to work their whole life. It is good to spend some time enjoying life; enjoying the people we love and enjoying the world that God created.
It doesn't mean that one needs to stop working or caring, but it means that it is time for something else to be the main focus.
Life.
I wonder if anyone in the Israelite camp questioned whether God was really talking to Moses all this time or if the old man was making some stuff up. And how did Moses feel about being the only God talks to? I can imagine it now... "Hey guys, God spoke to me again. Y'all need to shave your whole body and wash your clothes." And then some get disgruntled... "but I was working on a cool moustache."
But here comes the good part..."God said y'all get to retire at 50." And they all cheered.
How nice is that? To be able to retire at 50. And it's not an option, once they turn 50 they are done working. The text says they may "assist" others, but they no longer have any responsibility.
Today is my first blog from my new office. We finally got our internet problem solved! So here I sit, on my new office chair at my new desk typing on my kind of new computer. Surrounded by all this new stuff it's hard for to me even grasp the concept of retirement. I hope to get there someday... Unfortunately the expected age for people to retire keeps getting pushed back, I wouldn't be surprised if it's 80 by the time it's my turn. (Hopefully the market will come back by then)
Why does God make this requirement?
Because it is good for people to retire. People were not created to work their whole life. It is good to spend some time enjoying life; enjoying the people we love and enjoying the world that God created.
It doesn't mean that one needs to stop working or caring, but it means that it is time for something else to be the main focus.
Life.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Numbers 7
Numbers 7 tells us what the leaders of the families brought to offer the Lord. They all give silver and gold, incense and flour, and a whole mess of animals. They are generous in their giving. (In today's economy God would be doing pretty good with the precious metals He has been given!)
The Israelites are not ordered to give these gifts. They come to Moses and said "here, we brought these for the Lord." And Moses heard God say, "accept these gifts and give them to the Levites (priests) as they need."
Some churches can be a little over the top when it comes to asking their members for money. Some preachers make unrealistic promises based on giving. I heard a preacher promise his congregation they would hear Jesus' voice next Sunday if they all gave 100% of their income for the week to the church. Guess what? Jesus didn't show up... somebody must have ruined for everyone else.
Giving to God is not a contract.
Others preschers say that God requires everyone to give 10% to the church. Well, the bible does say that asked the Israelites to tithe 10%.
But God doesn't demand that we give. We can't buy God's love.
What God wants, the reason that God gave His only begotten son, is our hearts, not our wallets. God wants to be loved. All that God has done, creating the universe, the exodus and Jesus' death and resurrection was done so that we would know how much God loves us, and so that we would love God back.
And how do we love God back?
We give to God, because it is something we know how to do.
The Israelites are not ordered to give these gifts. They come to Moses and said "here, we brought these for the Lord." And Moses heard God say, "accept these gifts and give them to the Levites (priests) as they need."
Some churches can be a little over the top when it comes to asking their members for money. Some preachers make unrealistic promises based on giving. I heard a preacher promise his congregation they would hear Jesus' voice next Sunday if they all gave 100% of their income for the week to the church. Guess what? Jesus didn't show up... somebody must have ruined for everyone else.
Giving to God is not a contract.
Others preschers say that God requires everyone to give 10% to the church. Well, the bible does say that asked the Israelites to tithe 10%.
But God doesn't demand that we give. We can't buy God's love.
What God wants, the reason that God gave His only begotten son, is our hearts, not our wallets. God wants to be loved. All that God has done, creating the universe, the exodus and Jesus' death and resurrection was done so that we would know how much God loves us, and so that we would love God back.
And how do we love God back?
We give to God, because it is something we know how to do.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Numbers 6
In Numbes 6 God tells Moses and Aaron how to bless the Israelites. He tells Aaron to say "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord's face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
I assume Aaron did this. Because we still do it today. Every Sunday our worship ends with these words, we call it the Benediction.
But what does it mean.
I live in Texas where the sun shines every day. But I grew up in Michigan, where the sun doesn't shine every day. Actually, I remember a November when the sun only came out 3 days in the entire month. When you go a couple weeks without seeing the sun, you forget what it looks like, you forget what it feels like.
The part of this blessing that speaks loudest to me is "may the Lord's face shine upon you."
In life we sometimes go for long periods of time without experiencing God. We forget what it feels like to be in God's presence. God warms our soul like the sun warms our skin.
The blessing, the prayer that I end every service with is this, that we would all feel God's presence every day of our lives. That we would never forget how good God is and how good it feels to be loved so much that Jesus would die on a cross for us.
If I had one wish for all of humanity it would be that. That everyone would feel God's face shining on them everyday.
If that ever happened, hunger and violence would cease to exist.
If that ever happened, we would be in heaven.
I assume Aaron did this. Because we still do it today. Every Sunday our worship ends with these words, we call it the Benediction.
But what does it mean.
I live in Texas where the sun shines every day. But I grew up in Michigan, where the sun doesn't shine every day. Actually, I remember a November when the sun only came out 3 days in the entire month. When you go a couple weeks without seeing the sun, you forget what it looks like, you forget what it feels like.
The part of this blessing that speaks loudest to me is "may the Lord's face shine upon you."
In life we sometimes go for long periods of time without experiencing God. We forget what it feels like to be in God's presence. God warms our soul like the sun warms our skin.
The blessing, the prayer that I end every service with is this, that we would all feel God's presence every day of our lives. That we would never forget how good God is and how good it feels to be loved so much that Jesus would die on a cross for us.
If I had one wish for all of humanity it would be that. That everyone would feel God's face shining on them everyday.
If that ever happened, hunger and violence would cease to exist.
If that ever happened, we would be in heaven.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Numbers 5
Numbers 5 is a mix of voodoo and Jerry Springer... all that's missing is a bald security guard!
The majority of this chapter is God's plan for dealing with an unfaithful wife. If she is suspected of being unfaithful she must come to the priests and drink "bitter water". If she has been unfaithful then she will be cursed, but if she has not been unfaithful then she will be fine.
And what is the curse? (I think I had a curse put on me once when I was thrown out of a voodoo museum in New Orleans... I just asked if there would be any sacrifices while we were there. I thought it was a pretty fair question, but apparently it was offensive. I think my friends Jenny, Leah and Jake were afraid to stand next to me for the next few hours.)
In Numbers, the curse is this: her womb will swell and she will be unable to have children. If a woman was unable to have children she was accused of being unfaithful.
I hope that God didn't allow an innocent woman to be convicted of adultery. Many women are unable to have children, they are born that way. Abraham's wife Sarah was born that way. It wasn't until she was old that God performed a miracle and she was able to give birth. And Abraham and Sarah were around long before Moses, they knew that some women couldn't give birth.
Seems unfair to me. But then again, God didn't deal in fairness, and still doesn't.
But the God we worship and preach at Abiding Grace is unfair not in punishment but in love. Because grace, by its very nature is unfair. Grace means we don't get what we deserve.
Because of a sacrifice.
The majority of this chapter is God's plan for dealing with an unfaithful wife. If she is suspected of being unfaithful she must come to the priests and drink "bitter water". If she has been unfaithful then she will be cursed, but if she has not been unfaithful then she will be fine.
And what is the curse? (I think I had a curse put on me once when I was thrown out of a voodoo museum in New Orleans... I just asked if there would be any sacrifices while we were there. I thought it was a pretty fair question, but apparently it was offensive. I think my friends Jenny, Leah and Jake were afraid to stand next to me for the next few hours.)
In Numbers, the curse is this: her womb will swell and she will be unable to have children. If a woman was unable to have children she was accused of being unfaithful.
I hope that God didn't allow an innocent woman to be convicted of adultery. Many women are unable to have children, they are born that way. Abraham's wife Sarah was born that way. It wasn't until she was old that God performed a miracle and she was able to give birth. And Abraham and Sarah were around long before Moses, they knew that some women couldn't give birth.
Seems unfair to me. But then again, God didn't deal in fairness, and still doesn't.
But the God we worship and preach at Abiding Grace is unfair not in punishment but in love. Because grace, by its very nature is unfair. Grace means we don't get what we deserve.
Because of a sacrifice.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Numbers 4
In Numbers 4 God tells Moses and Aaron how to divide up the Levites and what the responsibilities of each clan are. And the responsibilities are no joke. God wants the altar and the ark of the covenant protected and treated with the utmost respect and care... because these things are holy.
These things are holy indeed.
At Abiding Grace our altar is a lunch table on some risers with a cloth over it. It's not made of gold like the altar the Israelites had, but it's not the gold that makes it special, it's God that makes it special.
In the Old Testament God was present at the altar, but when Jesus died the curtain of the temple ripped in two and God ventured out... to everywhere. God comes to us right where we are. There are no longer a few priveleged Levites that get to be in the presence of God... we all do.
And yet God is still at the altar everytime we worship. God is there through the Word spoken, the bread broken, and the wine poured. Holy time for holy people.
Holy, because God is holy.
These things are holy indeed.
At Abiding Grace our altar is a lunch table on some risers with a cloth over it. It's not made of gold like the altar the Israelites had, but it's not the gold that makes it special, it's God that makes it special.
In the Old Testament God was present at the altar, but when Jesus died the curtain of the temple ripped in two and God ventured out... to everywhere. God comes to us right where we are. There are no longer a few priveleged Levites that get to be in the presence of God... we all do.
And yet God is still at the altar everytime we worship. God is there through the Word spoken, the bread broken, and the wine poured. Holy time for holy people.
Holy, because God is holy.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Numbers 3
Numbers 3 is about what God wants... and God wants a lot.
God wants the all the firstborn sons of Israel for God's work, the priesthood.
The firstborn son has significant meaning. It was the firstborn son that was the most important of all the children. It was the firstborn son that inherited everything after the death of his father. Not only did he inherit everything, he became the patriarch of the family. He was placed in charge of all the family business. The Israelites had a lot of kids, families were huge. To be the firstborn son was a blessing that came with great responsibility.
Which is why it was so devastating to the Egyptians when they lost generations of firstborn sons. All the men with responsibility and all the boys being groomed for powerful positions were gone.
The Israelites count all the firstborn sons of Israel and they find there are 22,300. Let's put this in perspective. The army has 600,000 men, not counting children. 600,000 divided by 22,300 is 27. The average family had 27 sons. (I should have know when I started reading Numbers that I would need a calculator) It was a big deal to be the first born, it meant you were responsible for your 26 brothers and their families, plus any sisters that didn't get married, and your father's brothers and their wives and kids. It was being a small town mayor or dictator.
But God decides that instead of taking the first born of each family, He will just take the entire Levite clan instead... all of them to be priests. Turns out the numbers work out pretty well, there were 22,000 Levites.
The Levites were divided up and given different reponsibilities as priests. (I couldn't help but think of Star Wars as I was reading all their different responsibilities. The Empire has many jobs and they all have different uniforms. The storm troopers and the dudes that wear red helmets and capes around the Emperor were my favorites.) The Levites are now charged with spending their whole lives in service to God. Which I am sure came as good news to some and bad news to others.
But there is good news for all.
Jesus was the first born of all creation. He was the sole heir of all that was God's. God's one and only begotten son. He lived his life in service to God by serving others. And he gave his life so that all might be saved.
God does want. But God does not ask for more than He is willing to give in return.
God wants the all the firstborn sons of Israel for God's work, the priesthood.
The firstborn son has significant meaning. It was the firstborn son that was the most important of all the children. It was the firstborn son that inherited everything after the death of his father. Not only did he inherit everything, he became the patriarch of the family. He was placed in charge of all the family business. The Israelites had a lot of kids, families were huge. To be the firstborn son was a blessing that came with great responsibility.
Which is why it was so devastating to the Egyptians when they lost generations of firstborn sons. All the men with responsibility and all the boys being groomed for powerful positions were gone.
The Israelites count all the firstborn sons of Israel and they find there are 22,300. Let's put this in perspective. The army has 600,000 men, not counting children. 600,000 divided by 22,300 is 27. The average family had 27 sons. (I should have know when I started reading Numbers that I would need a calculator) It was a big deal to be the first born, it meant you were responsible for your 26 brothers and their families, plus any sisters that didn't get married, and your father's brothers and their wives and kids. It was being a small town mayor or dictator.
But God decides that instead of taking the first born of each family, He will just take the entire Levite clan instead... all of them to be priests. Turns out the numbers work out pretty well, there were 22,000 Levites.
The Levites were divided up and given different reponsibilities as priests. (I couldn't help but think of Star Wars as I was reading all their different responsibilities. The Empire has many jobs and they all have different uniforms. The storm troopers and the dudes that wear red helmets and capes around the Emperor were my favorites.) The Levites are now charged with spending their whole lives in service to God. Which I am sure came as good news to some and bad news to others.
But there is good news for all.
Jesus was the first born of all creation. He was the sole heir of all that was God's. God's one and only begotten son. He lived his life in service to God by serving others. And he gave his life so that all might be saved.
God does want. But God does not ask for more than He is willing to give in return.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Numbers 2
This chapter tells us how the clans were organized so that the whole nation could start its journey. (for those of you not reading along!)
The Jewish people were going somewhere, all of them. They were headed to the promised land. But before the journey began they needed to organize. They needed to understand where there place was, they needed to be in agreement. Each clan and each family knew where to be.
The church of Jesus Christ is going somewhere. It is marching onward into the future. But it is not going to be very effective if it can't move forward in unison.
Instead of clans and families we have denominations and synods. But what we are lacking is a common goal. Instead of agreeing on our shared mission we dwell in our disagreements. (What is communion? You ordain women? You ordain homosexuals? The carpet should be maroon!)
The goal is the promised land... here. We can all live in peace and abundance. We won't need to worry about war or hunger... it is possible. But no one will make it there unless we all make it there, together.
But that's not going to happen. Human pride and ego will stop it.
But through Christ it will happen. It has happened and is happening.
And some day, we will be there. With our family.
We will be right where we are supposed to be.
The Jewish people were going somewhere, all of them. They were headed to the promised land. But before the journey began they needed to organize. They needed to understand where there place was, they needed to be in agreement. Each clan and each family knew where to be.
The church of Jesus Christ is going somewhere. It is marching onward into the future. But it is not going to be very effective if it can't move forward in unison.
Instead of clans and families we have denominations and synods. But what we are lacking is a common goal. Instead of agreeing on our shared mission we dwell in our disagreements. (What is communion? You ordain women? You ordain homosexuals? The carpet should be maroon!)
The goal is the promised land... here. We can all live in peace and abundance. We won't need to worry about war or hunger... it is possible. But no one will make it there unless we all make it there, together.
But that's not going to happen. Human pride and ego will stop it.
But through Christ it will happen. It has happened and is happening.
And some day, we will be there. With our family.
We will be right where we are supposed to be.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Numbers 1
Mark Saunders has requested that I blog on Numbers, so here we go. (I will be quizzing Mark to make sure he is reading)
Numbers is the 4th of 5 books that make up the Torah, which is the first 5 books of the bible. The first chapter has God telling Moses to take a census and build an army. Moses does and builds an army of 603,000 men. Moses counts all the men over 20 that are able to fight from every tribe except the Levites. The Levites are set aside by God to be priests.
Let's put this in perspective, God's army has 603,000... The active US Army right now has 561,000 soldiers. God built an army in the Sinai Peninsula, which is a little smaller than West Virginia. The US Army is spread out all over the world. But why? Why does God need such a huge army for such a small place?
God has plans. Plans to venture in to the promised land and expand the Isrealite territory.
God's army is starting at one end and slowly working it's way north... maybe God is a football fan!
But what about the people in they way? The people who are living there now? This army is being assembled to conquer them.
Are we to believe that there was a time when God only cared about one group of people, and the rest of the world was just in the way? Why would God only love one group of people? Did God only create one group of people or did God create everyone?
This past weekend I was at a conference for new ELCA congregations and I met a couple guys that have started a church in Rapid City, South Dakota and are ministering to the Lakota tribe. How would a Native American read this? They have been stripped of their land and heritage, just like the people that God's army is going after in Numbers.
The good news is that the bible has more then just these first 5 books. We have other stories that tell us what God is like. And we have the gospels, the stories of Jesus give us an insight into God's character unlike any other book of the bible.
Maybe Moses misunderstood God. Maybe not.
But there is no misunderstanding Jesus.
Jesus died because he loves YOU. Just the way YOU are.
That is good news.
Numbers is the 4th of 5 books that make up the Torah, which is the first 5 books of the bible. The first chapter has God telling Moses to take a census and build an army. Moses does and builds an army of 603,000 men. Moses counts all the men over 20 that are able to fight from every tribe except the Levites. The Levites are set aside by God to be priests.
Let's put this in perspective, God's army has 603,000... The active US Army right now has 561,000 soldiers. God built an army in the Sinai Peninsula, which is a little smaller than West Virginia. The US Army is spread out all over the world. But why? Why does God need such a huge army for such a small place?
God has plans. Plans to venture in to the promised land and expand the Isrealite territory.
God's army is starting at one end and slowly working it's way north... maybe God is a football fan!
But what about the people in they way? The people who are living there now? This army is being assembled to conquer them.
Are we to believe that there was a time when God only cared about one group of people, and the rest of the world was just in the way? Why would God only love one group of people? Did God only create one group of people or did God create everyone?
This past weekend I was at a conference for new ELCA congregations and I met a couple guys that have started a church in Rapid City, South Dakota and are ministering to the Lakota tribe. How would a Native American read this? They have been stripped of their land and heritage, just like the people that God's army is going after in Numbers.
The good news is that the bible has more then just these first 5 books. We have other stories that tell us what God is like. And we have the gospels, the stories of Jesus give us an insight into God's character unlike any other book of the bible.
Maybe Moses misunderstood God. Maybe not.
But there is no misunderstanding Jesus.
Jesus died because he loves YOU. Just the way YOU are.
That is good news.
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