Numbers, numbers, numbers

Numbers... Currently doing the Wesley BRD and it is not easy getting through this book. As it was with Leviticus. Even one of my friends who likes to talk at length about the Bible, making numerous references to commentaries said he didn't really dwell too much on it and has read it only a few times.

He said this in response to a question from me about which parts of the Old Testament are still valid for us. Some clearly are no longer needed, such as sacrifice for atonement, but there are other issues such as dress, food, and even forgiveness of debts. He did however say that we should focus on the holiness of God, and also interpret the Old Testament's emphasis on holiness through  Christ. Not quite what I was getting at but a useful perspective nonetheless.

As I read this morning's reflections in the Telegram app, I was struck by how the writer focused exclusively on the Psalm that was in the reading, and ignored the OT segment, and realised that it happens quite often. Most of us struggle to understand the relevance of those books, or at least find it difficult to extract meaningful reflections for today's audience.

I suppose you can only say so much about how every one of us matters to God, just as every one of the Israelites mattered to him such that they are all mentioned in the book. But they are still useful reminders when we read them - or skim through heh...

My reflection this morning was about roles. The chapter was about how each tribe was given a specific role, clearly described in detail and it then struck me that this message strikes at the heart of modern society today. People are constantly bombarded with messages that they can be anything they want, even though this is clearly deluded - including gender. Just go with what you feel. Your feelings matter most, even at the exclusion of how others may feel.

And Christians are of course not immune from this. The reflection on Psalms was about how the writer felt threatened by hostility towards Christian beliefs and values (I'd say the ancient Jews had it worse in Roman times). Here I would say that the world responds as well to what we say about them. And if our words are not motivated by love, but rather by what sets us apart, it is understandable that those who are on the outside, also feel our hostility (in some cases expressed directly, in others implicitly) or perhaps a better way of putting it, our lack of love and compassion. And they respond in kind, with unkindness. And a vicious circle starts.

So many are clamouring for attention, to get the last definitive word in, that we lose our way. The only way to be heard in the cacophony is to become even more extreme in today's world. The quiet nuanced meditative argument is lost.

The book of Numbers tells us not to seek our own glory, but to glorify Him with whatever role we are given, no matter how 'small' or 'insignificant' it may seem. Why did God have to do this? Because of what we are. We are sinful creatures who want to dominate, to make more of ourselves than we are, to deserve better than what we have, to want more than what we are allocated. Some in the community would no doubt have challenged Moses' authority, if not openly then at least in their hearts. Some would say they played greater roles in the Exodus, and deserved more than just looking after the tabernacle.

God makes it clear. He is God, and all are to serve Him, not themselves. All will be given specific roles, and no nonsense about how they may FEEL about the role assigned.