Numbers 15:17-16:40 + Mark 15:1-47 + Psalm 54:1-7 + Proverbs 11:5-6
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Old Testament – Today in Numbers chapter 15 we read about unintentional and intentional sins. Verse 30 stood out to me – “But those who brazenly violate the LORD’s will, whether native Israelites or foreigners, blaspheme the LORD.” I have thought about this in my life in the past… and thought about that old phrase, “ignorance is bliss.” While this phrase may seem true at first glance – ignorance is bliss – it’s obviously not “True” at all. It is so much better to know godly Truth, than to be ignorant. However… once we know godly Truth, what if we then consciously go against that Truth? What if we “brazenly violate God’s will”? This verse today reminded me that once we know Truth – and as we continue to grow in our knowledge of Truth and the Bible – we really should be much more intentional in how we live. We know what godly living looks like. We should not go back to our old ways of thinking or our old habits. We know better. And we most certainly should not think that “ignorance is bliss.” It isn’t.
“Trial By Fire” – ever hear this term? I think this term may have gotten its genesis here in Numbers chapter 16. Korah’s rebellion caused Moses to explain how this true trial by fire would go down in verses 4 through 7 – “Tomorrow morning the LORD will show us who belongs to him and who is holy. The LORD will allow those who are chosen to enter his holy presence. You, Korah, and all your followers must do this: Take incense burners, and burn incense in them tomorrow before the LORD. Then we will see whom the LORD chooses as his holy one.” A trial by fire indeed occurs subsequently in this chapter. Here’s how Boticelli depicts this scene of scripture in the Sistine Chapel in Rome (note that Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine – whereas other artists painted the walls – I just learned this just now!):
Verses 12 & 13 stood out as completely strange, as these 2 men had somehow now thought that instead of being a prison, Egypt was now in their minds a paradise?…. “Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We refuse to come! Isn’t it enough that you brought us out of Egypt, a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us here in this wilderness, and that you now treat us like your subjects?” I wonder if we do this in our lives? Think that things that used to be so bad for us are now somehow good? I know I’ve done this. I’ve left situations or relationships or bad habits – knowing they were simply bad for me – and then later down the road I’ve sometimes thought to myself, “ahh… I miss xyz or doing xyz… I should go back to that.” And I do. And I regret it all over once again. There is a somewhat obscure R.E.M. song that goes “Don’t go back to Rockville – and waste another year.” I think of this song on occasion when I am tempted to go back to something I know I shouldn’t go back to – I sing to myself, “don’t go back to Rockville.” Perhaps Dathan and Abiram should have been singing to themselves – “don’t go back to Egypt – and waste another year…” What about you? Is there an Egypt / Rockville or two in your life that you’ve left behind? Are you ever tempted to go back? Do you sometimes even think you might have been wrong about how bad things were back then…. that it might have really been a land flowing with milk and honey even! Well, I know we’ll all have our moments of going backwards…. but I pray we see the True land of milk and honey in front of us that is only available through a relationship with Jesus and the Father – and that we won’t go back to our “Egypts”…
New Testament – It is interesting in the One Year Bible how we go through the 4 Gospels one after another in the beginning portion of the year. In some ways it may seem repetitive – but I think repetitive is good when we’re talking about the story of Jesus… we really cannot hear and meditate upon this story enough. Also, what I like is the nuances of each Gospel – or maybe things that are indeed in a few of the Gospels that somehow just stand out to me in some new way in one of the Gospels. Today is one of those days where something jumped out at me that I have not really noticed before – and that is Pilate in verses 9 & 10 – “”Should I give you the King of the Jews?” Pilate asked. (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.)” It’s interesting that Pilate used the term King of the Jews here – and again later in the narrative – and that he also had this term nailed to the cross. And the question I have is this – did Pilate do this simply to try and irritate the leading priests? I think this is probably the case. But, I’m looking forward to some further study on this.
Psalms – I like Psalm 54 verse 4 a lot – “But God is my helper. The Lord is the one who keeps me alive!” Is this true in your life? Is God the one who keeps you alive? Or are you trying to lean on other things as your source of life? I believe it is such a blessing to surrender more and more to God until we get to the point where truly this true for us – God is the one – and only – who keeps us alive. I am not saying I am there yet – but I’m trying to get there. I’m trying to surrender more and more each day to Jesus and the Father – all that I am – all that I am living for. I pray that in your life and in mine God will be the one who keeps us alive!
Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 11 verse 5 stands out as a powerful reminder to not even tell white lies! “The godly are directed by their honesty.”
Worship Video: Our readings today about the crucifixion of Jesus reminds me of the song “Jesus Paid It All” sung here by Celtic Worship (with bagpipes!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfUNU-sPwbQ
Do you believe that Jesus Paid It All for you? Click here and Believe!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.” Mark 15:2 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that Jesus is your King today and forevermore. Pray that you will always submit to your King, Jesus.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Based on our Proverb today, how about you? Are you directed by honesty? Do you place honestly as a major guiding principle in your life? Do you ever catch yourself telling white lies? Do you confess these to God and to others? Do you think we should we confess white lies? Why or why not? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Love, Trust and Obey Jesus,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Numbers 15:17-16:40
Everywhere I look in the 15th chapter, I see reminders that we are a sinful people. We are sinful not so much because we are so very bad, which we are, we are a rebellious people, but we are sinful because we live in a world of sin. Since man’s fall in the garden, we are surrounded by sin. That is the unintentional sin talked about in this chapter and in the first five chapter of the Book of Leviticus.
To sin, in both the Greek and the Hebrew means to “miss the mark,” and no matter how much we aim for the Bulls Eye, we will not get it every time even if we are highly trained marksmen. We sin as a community; we sin as a family, we sin as individuals, there is no avoiding it.
1 John 1 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
This is something we don’t like to do because we don’t want to admit guilt for anything because it really wasn’t our fault. That is the cry of our heart. But that misses the whole entire point, compared to the “In the Beginning …” we have and will continue to “miss the mark,” until Jesus comes back in the Second Advent. We are so hung up, including me, on not being tagged with the “S” word that we don’t realize that these Laws, and now Jesus’ death burial and resurrections is to get us back to the “In the Beginning …” state so that we have unbroken fellowship with God. God and sin cannot hang out together. This is the first time I’m seeing this connection and this is the first time I have some semblance of understanding of what sin really is, it is anything or condition that is out of alignment with “In the Beginning …”
In chapter sixteen we have Korah and his crowd who wanted to be large-and-in-charge. The problem with Korah is that others allowed his bitterness to infiltrate their hearts and he took them down with him. One of the things I noticed in this little large group of people is “God ain’t running no democracy.” He is the One who gives gifts; He is the one who places people in their assignment no matter what you think about yourself. God doesn’t practice multiculturalism and He doesn’t take into account ethnic differences and preferences with the administration of His Laws and Sacrificial systems. The Law applied to everyone living in the soon to be occupied Promise Land, Israel.
God knows us; He created us. He knows what we were designed to do. He knows our strengths because He created them. This may not seem fair when we decide we don’t like our assignment and want to do something else or we envy someone else’s assignment, we become like Korah. If our Television decided it wanted to be a vacuum cleaner, maybe it could be worked on to do a little vacuuming; however, it would be ineffective, inefficient and way out of order. So too are we when we do not do what we have been gifted to do, we are out-of-order. Our life’s homework is to find what we were created to do and do it or else we may find ourselves swallowed up in the futility of our own envy and jealousy.
Mark 15
Just think, Jesus became the Sacrificial Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world, our sins, my sins, your sins. Accepting His shed blood by receiving Him into our hearts and lives brings us back to the “In the Beginning …” state. However, our walk my cause us to get dirty and that is why 1 John 1: 8-9 (see comments on Numbers above) is so very wonderful.
Everything he endured with the trial, the beatings the humiliation he did to set us free from the cords and oppression of sin. [Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.] That joy that Jesus that Jesus fixed His eyes on to endure the events we saw in the Passion of the Christ, was our redemption. Let us understand how valuable and how loved we are by God for Him to allow Jesus to take on flesh and to die, once, for us all as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Hallelujah!!
Psalm 54:1-7
4 But God is my helper.
The Lord is the one who keeps me alive!
5 May my enemies’ plans for evil be turned against them.
Do as you promised and put an end to them.
6 I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you;
I will praise your name, O LORD,
for it is good.
7 For you will rescue me from my troubles
and help me to triumph over my enemies.
Sometimes we forget and think folks are our enemies, folks are just folks just acting like folks, sinful folks. Funny how we can tag certain people as our enemy and they can be believers also. And as we look at them across our line of scrimmage, they look back at say, at us, “What kind of Christians are they?”
This is our enemy, not folks:
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Proverbs 11:5-6
5 The godly are directed by their honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin
We were not made to carry sin with all its weight and its ultimate end, death.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Pat:
I can’t help but compare our readings in Numbers and Mark today and feel so blessed to be born under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. Under the Old Covenant, as addressed in Numbers, no one could approach and communicate directly with God except Moses and Aaron. The Israelites had to go through the Levites to make atonement, and the Levites then had to go to the priests with the atonement requests, and then the priests had to go to Moses or Aaron if there was a message that the people wanted delivered directly to God or a question they wanted answered. When Christ died on the cross and the veil to the Most Holy Place was ripped from top to bottom, it freed all of us to commune directly with God. No longer do we have to rely on someone else to make atonement for us because Jesus Christ truly set us free! Jesus Christ took our atonement directly to the grave with Him and He opened the door to a personal relationship with God. Praise the Lord!
Mike, I too am plagued by white lies. I find myself telling them if it is something that I know will make another person feel good even if I don’t truly believe it. These are lies like some one being excited over their new hairstyle and then asking me if I like it. I always smile and say, “It looks great” when I’m really thinking “You should have left it alone.” I always feel guilty when I do that and ask God to forgive me but I’m also honest with God and tell Him that I’ll probably do it again for I have never learned how to tactfully get around a situation like this when I know the joy the white lie will bring to someone else. Maybe some of you in this Bible Blog will know a way to get around these white lies and can share it with me.
Rob, I have always struggled with my feelings regarding Judas. I know that the betrayal had to happen in order for the Scripture to be fulfilled, but my heart has always grieved for Judas being the one who had to do it. Even though Judas was doing what had to be done, I don’t think he will be treated as a martyr because Mark 14:21 says, “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays that Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
God Bless,
Pat
======= Micah Girl:
The whole episode with Korah and fire and the earth swallowing up disobedient followers is hard to wrap my brain around. If I were swallowed up when I disobeyed, I think I’d have been gone a long time ago. And yet we still know that God is slow to anger and abounding in mercy. One thing the Bible does not do is allow us to fall asleep when we read it faithfully. My comfortable view of God is always being challenged and expanded.
Micah Girl
======= Anka:
The Lord is my helper….we talked about the disciples in church yesterday.They were used to seeing Jesus with authority over demons,heal the sick…feed thousands…now when faced with the crowd he did nothing,when accused,he didn’t defend himself.His accusers laughed at how he save others yet he didn’t save himself.Yet he was doing something…he was saving us.In times when nothing seems to make sense,everything seems to be going wrong…it’s that time maybe to be still and know the He is our helper..He’s not not lost control,he’s still got the last word…ALL things work together for our good.
God bless you all
Anka
======= Jenny:
I agree with what u wrote about the term ignorance is bliss. In some cases it is, but not in spiritual ones. If I hear a tasteless joke or term that has a double-antandra and I don’t get it n someone tries to tell me, I say, no don’t tell me. I don’t want to know those things. But spiritually, ignorance is dangerous.
Powerful readings in Numbers regarding Korah! Don’t mess with God! You will lose!
The sons of Eliab wanted to go back to Egypt the “land flowing with milk and honey”. The land was not flowing withy milk n honey, they were miserable there…but they imaged they were better off. I believe every believer faces this temptation. Sometimes when things aren’t going right we look back on our days “in the world’ with almost a fondness as if things were easier then (lies straight from satan). We forget we were miserable there and God freed us. So if we dare to turn back, we sure get what we asked for and end up miserable.
In Mark, this truly breaks my heart, every time I read the account. I’m so not worthy of this. I surely don’t understand God’s full love for me/us. The torture, the shame, and yet He loved the very ones that did this to Him (which was actually all of us). Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple was a rich man and used the tomb he had reserved for himself to bury Jesus in. He knew the tomb would soon be empty =). Interesting the women were there in the distance watching, where were the disciples? They all scattered.
I turn to my study Bible notes in Pilate’s ‘King of the Jews” inscription above Jesus which is addressed in v. 26:
“Inscription of His accusation…..The crime for which a condemned man was executed was written on a wooden board which was fastened to the cross above his head. Jesus’ inscription was written in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek.
“THE KING OF THE JEWS…. Since Pilate had repeatedly declared Jesus to be innocent of any crime, he ordered this inscription written for Him. Whether Pilate’s intent was probably neither to mock or honor Jesus, he certainly intended it as an affront to the Jewish authorities, who had given him so much trouble. When the outraged Jewish leaders demanded the wording to be changed, Pilate bluntly refused. A comparison of all four gospels reveals that the full inscription read; THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS”.
Psalms. God is for sure the one who keeps me alive, Him and Him only! And I don’t mean merely He gives me breath, but gives me true life. I cant think of anything else I depend on so fully as to say it keeps me alive. In comparison to the glory of God and the true life He gives His children who abide in Him, there is nothing that comes close! For me, He is the reason I live, and remain alive as long as I have; I have nothing else that comes close!
I do still tell lies at times. I have had to confess to the person I lied to and to God. Some ‘white lies’ are a sticky issue. Like if a friend asks about their physical appearance, say, if I like their new outfit and I don’t, I’ll try to be tactful and not say I love it, but sometimes I do. if I don’t like it, I wont offer up a false compliment, but if they ask I don’t want to hurt them! So, that’s a tricky question, we aren’t to be rude, but we aren’t to lie. But I think honesty is one of the most important things, to be known as an honest person, not merely by men, but by God. I rather be honest n suffer the consequences. At the end of the day, its God I am accountable to!
Jenny
======= Mae:
Reading Numbers made me think about our Pastor, we had somebody in church who wanted to be ‘the leader of the church’ as well. Our Pastor is only 36 years old, this other man was passed 40 and he thought he didn’t have to listen to our Pastor only because he was older. He couldn’t handle the fact that ‘the boss’ was younger than him. He and his family left to another church of hours. I think that’s just so silly. I mean, it’s God’s choice that our Pastor is our Pastor. We need to have respect for the Pastor, not only because he’s ‘our leader’, but God pointed him out to be our Pastor.
Psalm 54:4 “But God is my helper. The Lord is the one who keeps me alive!” ~ powerful and o, so true! The Lord is keeping me alive, defenitly! I gave my life to Him when I made my choice to accept Jesus. Reading His Word makes me open to whatever the Lord wants me to do. My quiet time with the Lord is the time when I get revelations.
Psalm 54:7 “For you have rescued me from my troubles and helped me to triumph over my enemies”. ~ Sad but true … following God makes you get some enemies along the way. People who want to run away from God, run away from you. God rescued me from feeling awful when people rejected me. He thought me “they’re not rejecting you, but rejecting me”. I’ve come to learn that this is very true. I can leave it behind me, just by knowing this.
Proverbs 11:5 “The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin”. ~ Well, this pretty much sais it all. I sometimes think that the wicked don’t think they sin. They create their own ‘honesty’ and live like that. But yes … as soon as they fall, they’ll know what they’ve done wrong. And think back to the time they had the opportunities to make their wrong right.
Mae
====== Rob:
Hi Mike and all other OYB blog friends,
I would like to share some thoughts on today’s reading….
First of all about what Mike wrote about repetition: “…but I think repetitive is good when we’re talking about the story of Jesus…” I agree and I sometimes marvel at the number of times the Gospels have been studied by so many people through the centuries. Just reminding myself of that, makes me feel honored to be part of that lineage. Now and then I can almost feel the power and wisdom of that lineage while studying the Gospels.
And a thought about Mark 15:9-15: Last week I saw a Dutch poster that said: “We moeten de waarheid niet verwarren met de mening van de meerderheid” or translated: “We should not confuse the truth with the opinion of the majority”. Wow, a pretty accurate description of what happened before Pilatus.
Last but not least about Mark 15:23: “They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. I read in a book that a mixture of wine and myrrh was in those times used to relieve pain. Bible.org says the same: “…whoever gave it to him most likely did so in order to relieve his pain, but Jesus was unwilling to take it.” Jesus chose to experience the pain to the fullest. I found myself wondering about the type of pain that was so torturing. The physical pain or the sins of all mankind (the wrath of God) that Jesus was carrying for us since Gethsemane? I know I would have taken the wine in my life (drugs, alcohol, food), but since I try to just experience the pain (trusting Jesus to give me the strength to do so), much healing has taken place. Thank you Master Jesus for your example!
To wrap up this comment, I was wondering what your thoughts are about Judas. The more I study the bible, the more I see that his role has been crucial in fulfilling the prophecies of the OT. Was he a brave man (maybe even the most loved disciple of Jesus), a martyr, or a plain crook? What are your thoughts on this?
All the best,
Rob
======= John:
Rob,
Judas
God has and will always use, in an imperfect world, evil and/or non-believers in fulfilling His plan.
Ex. Pharoah who was foretold by God and did perform exactly as said in dealings with Moses. Asssyrians who were foretold by the prophets and did capture Northern Israel. Babylonians who were foretold by the prophets and destroyed and captured Southern Israel. Judas who was foretold by the prophets/psalms and did betray Jesus.
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Luke 12:48b “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” NIV
What was Judas given and entrusted with? Three years + of being a part of the closest group to Christ and hearing His teachings. Judas was entrusted with the “purse/money” of the group. First hand (eye-witness) evidence of the signs and wonders performed by Christ – AND Judas was sent out as one of the twelve, where Judas – himself – was part of Matt 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons.”
Yet Judas went ahead and betrayed Jesus. Just goes to show that signs and wonders never convert anyone, even when “one” is given the power to perform the signs . It is only when the heart is right and one turns to God.
Judas’s heart was not right. He was a thief (John 12:6), and my belief is that all along, while believing Jesus was the Messiah, his desire was for Jesus to lead a revolt against the Romans. When it was clear that was not going to happen – Judas decided to force Jesus’ hand and pick up a little money on the side.
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This non-belief and a heart not turned to God gave Satan the opening he was looking for in getting to Jesus.
John and Luke (the historian) make clear that money was not the motivating factor, it was Satan. All believers can be prompted by Satan, but no believer can be possessed by Satan. “entered” in the Greek with demons or satan always indicates possession (also in Mk 9:25 and Luke 8:30 with “Legion”). Satan motivated and manipulated what was already an evil heart given over to sin.
John 13:2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
John 13:27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.
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Yes, Judas experianced “remorse/regret”
Matt 27:3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
The Greek “metamellomai” does not meant heartfelt remorse like Peter experianced, but a regret for one’s actions. Judas probably did not want it to go this far, and perhaps he feared revenge from the apostles (conjecture). Regardless, Judas did not turn to God and repent – but committed the ultimate selfish act (suicide).
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Look, we are all sinners, and prior to salvation have a hard and evil heart. If we do not accept Christ as our Lord and Savior – we will be seperated from God at death (hell). Judas did not repent, and he is in Hell. How bad is his level of punishment in Hell? The more you know and reject Christ – the worse it is – and Judas was exposed to everything. No wonder the Lord said:
Mark 14:21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
[Also repeated in Matt 26:24. Why? I believe Matthew wrote to the Jews, and Mark wrote to the Romans(Gentiles) – thus the whole world should be clear on this position on Judas.]
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After it was all over and Peter was talking to the believers in the room in Acts 1, Peter refers to Judas
Acts 1:25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.”
“left” in the Greek means turned aside from, walked away from, abandoned.
Judas knowingly and willingly rejected Christ, and he is now where he “belongs” – the place for all people who reject Christ.
Sorry, Rob – there is no way that I can find Judas to be a sympathetic character.
John
======= Art:
It’s *amazing* to think of Psalm 54 representing not only David’s experience, but also Jesus’ during his Passion (e.g., as we read today in Mark 15).
In particular, Psalm 54:3: “Strangers are attacking me; ruthless men seek my life — men without regard for God.”, followed by v.6 as Christ goes willingly to the cross: “I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, O LORD…”
Wow. Just wow. Imagine those words coming from the Son who was with God from the beginning!
And that’s not to mention how this all dovetails neatly with today’s Proverbs reading when one thinks about those hurling insults at Jesus as he suffered. In doing so, they brought themselves and not Jesus down to ruin.
Art
======= CJ:
I have to admit that passages like today’s make me wonder. I know people who do not think the Bible is the literal word of God, that it’s been tainted by men and thus is not inerrant, that men project onto God their own beliefs, etc. in the Bible. The passage today about God telling them to kill the guy who broke the Sabbath is one of those tough passages. Is this just an unpleasant aspect of God that we must just accept? It seems so harsh & unfair. Or is there maybe more to the story or context than we get in the passage? Does anyone have any thoughts on this or other tough passages?
CJ
======= Art:
Yeah, I had trouble with that one too, CJ. I think it’s natural to take anything we read — in the Bible or elsewhere — and try to fit it into a context we know, even if it’s not the same.
It’s much harder, even reading from the beginning, as we are, to really get oneself into the context of that time and that place and those people and see it from God’s perspective.
The best I’ve been able to do is this:
God, as the author of life, has a very different relationship with death and killing than we do. For all we know, he killed someone physically, as in this passage, then attached Christ’s forgiveness to them and restored them to everlasting life. Or not. We just can’t know.
But we do know that he’s capable of doing that, and that He is merciful and just. If we say: “well, He’s merciful and just except for here and here and over there”, then what we’re doing is setting ourselves up as the arbiters of what is just and — while I know I can’t understand God’s ways fully — I do know that my being judge of such things is a really bad idea.
It’s also true that we treat children very differently from adolescents and different still from when they become adults. When my kids were young, there were times when I had to yell (“stop! don’t go into that road!”) or get physical (“don’t put your hand on that hot stove!”, “do not pull the cat’s tail!”… slap; grab) in order to protect and love them.
I did not need to employ such tactics as they matured and became wiser. Looking at the story of the Bible, it’s not the case that humanity got any less evil, but perhaps God’s plan for making his historical points has gotten subtler. I just don’t know.
One final thing is that we tend, in the 21st century, to interpret everything, including justice as applying first and last to the individual. The idea of doing something for the good of society has gotten a bad rap because those purporting to dish it out do not bring divine power and perspective to the job.
Anyway, just my thoughts…
Art
======= Steve:
Numbers 15:37-40 The LORD said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. 39 You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the LORD, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. 40 Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God. 41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.
These blue tassels that hung from the bottom of the Israelites garments made me curious enough to search through several commentaries to find why they wore them. The tassels sewn on the bottom of the Israelites garments were intended to remind the wandering Israelites to think about what heaven will be like. The Bible refers to blue as the color of heaven. Thinking about what heaven will be like keeps us on track with eternal thoughts instead of the temporal thoughts; it keeps us focused on the big picture rather than worldly temporary distractions. It also makes difficult times here and now bearable by knowing that this broken world we live in is only a temporary stop on our way to heaven, where everything is in perfect working order and will stay that way through all eternity.
The wandering Israelites had come out of Egypt which symbolically represents the ways of the world and had wandered in search of the promise land which represents heaven like the Garden of Eden represents heaven (but of course isn’t). Egypt in a sense took care of all the needs of the Israelites without them having to depend on God, Egypt provided shelter, food and protection but also put them in bondage as slaves. Those blue tassels were to remind them that even though it seems harder to depend on God for all our provisions, we are free and no longer in bondage to the injustices of this world.
When the Israelites lost sight of what those blue tassels represented they went off course becoming dissatisfied, depressed and without hope. This is what happens when we lose sight of heaven. The key to a fruitful meaningful life on earth is to live for heaven.
Steve
======== Jeffrey:
Steve, you are correct in that we should live for heaven, as in some ways, we are already there:
Ephesians 2:4–8
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, (ESV)
Thanks for such a well thought out post
Jeffrey
======= Patty:
Steve, interesting about the blue tassels symbolizing heaven! I had researched the clothing tassels a few years back and discovered they are also called prayer tassels. Praying in dependence to an utterly faithful God is our source of refuge, strength, and guidance. All throughout the Bible, and particularly in Psalms, we are reminded that God is our strength—not man or self, not human wisdom and perceived strength.
In Psalm 57 and 91 (and others) it says that the LORD is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust…under “his wings,” in the shadow of “his wings” you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. The word for ‘wings’ in the original language also meant “skirt” or “corner of a garment.” This referenced the 4-cornered prayer shawl or ’tallit’ of the Hebrew man to which the highly symbolic prayer tassels were affixed. To find refuge ‘under His wings’ symbolizes finding refuge in prayer and the presence of God and finding strength in His protection and sovereign authority.
Patty
======= Jim:
Steve,
Well said brother, I find this true in my on life. Losing sight of God’s purpose, our final destination, but He is with us now to endure the season we are in, joyful or sorrow, trials or self-inflicted. God’s people were delivered from slavery, but still looked back. As believers we were delivered from slavery, but when we take our eyes off God, our adversary is willing to lead us astray. May todays reading steer us back to Him.
Also, following the quotation of Mark 15:9,10; further sturdy was suggested. Consider starting with Isaiah 52:15 and then expanding to the whole of Isaiah 52:13 thru 53:12. A connection/study group with whom I am involved is at this point right now. I’m suggesting that Pilate’s words are simply partially fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy.
Jim
======= Russ:
I must say, the Israelites were some hard headed people. no matter what God did, they still ended up doubting and turning their backs on Him. I pray that none of us will be that hard headed. Although, I must admit, there have been times that I was…
Russ
======= Robert:
Numbers 15 and 16
Truth
What is truth? I agree with Mike that once we know truth our sin is revealed and we stand convicted. I wrote an essay on truth some 15 years ago and did a horrible job. Even with research I couldn’t get it. I was like Pilate when he asked Jesus, What is truth? And then walks away without waiting for Jesus to answer. (John 18:38). Human arrogance and ignorance.
In reading about the rebellion today I was reminded of how God will sometimes take extreme measures to insure his chosen people are reminded of who He is and to follow His plan. How often have I gathered wood on a Sunday? (Numbers 15:32-36). In many ways we are the same insolent, independent and rebellious people today. All the more reason to study the Word and ask the Holy Spirit to show you truth. Maybe tassels on my jacket would help. Thanks Steev for finding out more about those tassels – to remind us of what heaven will be like!
I like what Albert Einstein said, “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”
Robert
======= Dee:
The beginning of Numbers today, 15:17-29, makes me think of Hosea 4:6, my people perish for lack of knowledge, which however, God doesn’t smote them for not knowing, they just did unintentional sin, because they didn’t know. I believe in the OT, their way of knowing and hearing was hooked up through Moses and Aaron ciphering out what God told them, they were in OT, what our Bible and Jesus is in NT and in todays world. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God, they grew faith muscles, and/or were growing faith muscles and probably didn’t even know or comprehend back then what was transpiring.
In Numbers 15:32, I thought at first that this punishment was pretty harsh, and then I looked back up above it, in verse 30, But those who brazenly violtate the Lords will, whether native born Israelites or foreigners, have blasphemed the Lord, and they must be cut off from the community. God has His reasons behind all of this, which rather directly ties in to the Proverbs message, about white lies and honesty, the picking up of wood on Sabbath, may have seemed like in reference to a “little white lie” something insignificant that wouldn’t hurt us, when in fact, a sin is a sin is a sin..Gal 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Dee
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