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.
Friday, August 12, 2011
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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