Numbers seems to echo a common refrain. God is holy. We are not. God is sovereign. We are not. How I miss the casual relationship of Adam, Eve and God walking in the cool of the day. But then sin severed the relationship. Death, pain, and frustrating labor (both kinds) entered the picture. Paradise was sealed with a flaming sword.
So now we are left to sort out the mess in Numbers. The Israelites must perform countless rituals and observe religious Sabbaths that remind them that God is holy, and they are not. They forget, and death ensues- in the form of plagues or fire (as in the case of Aaron’s sons.) I do not enjoy this relationship, but I do want to learn from it. I want to thank Jesus from my core for making a way for me to walk in the cool of the day with Him. I want to shout praises to God for sending his Holy Spirit in such a way that we can walk through fire and not get burned (Isaiah 43:2). How unthinkable- that Aaron’s sons were killed for offering unauthorized fire- and yet I can have the fire of the Lord burning inside of me? Reading the Old Testament at times makes me cringe, but a new sense of appreciation sweeps over me- a greater insight into the privilege I should not take lightly. Lord- let me continuously tend my lamp.
And yet, how do I maintain the proper respect for God, now that I am privileged to such an intimate relationship? When Moses and Aaron struck the rock instead of speaking as directed, we are told they did not honor God as holy (Numbers 27:14). The consequence for their sin was not entering the Promised Land-
Why were people with diseases told to leave the camp? Why were you unclean after your period, after touching or being in the presence of someone or something that died? Isn’t it unloving to kick people out for not maintaining a standard of perfection that at times seems arbitrary and gender biased?
Yes, I think there are probably some medical benefits to some of the isolation. But I think the bigger answer is found in who God is. He is holy and death has no part of him. Adam sinned, bringing death and disease. The people were not always the problem- but sin and death have no part in who God is. And praise His Name that he had a plan through Jesus to restore us- heal our diseases, give us life and live with him in paradise once again.
Yet, I have a struggle. How can I show respect and honor his holiness while building such an intimate relationship with God? The saying goes- familiarity breeds contempt. I am not good at respecting those I love. I don’t state this flippantly or callously. It hurts to say that. In fact I hate it about myself. Yet, I believe God offers me a secret here and I am yearning to take a hold of it. I believe God will show me this secret of relating properly to him in His perfection while I learn to respect my husband, who is fallible. Thank you God, for this impossible journey made possible through you.
Questions for Reflection:
How specifically can we honor God’s holiness?
Has/Is a failure to honor God’s holiness keeping you wandering in a desert of repeated situations? Has/Is this failure keeping you from entering into his promises for you?
On the flip side: How has honoring God’s holiness and believing in his sovereignty allowed you to enter the Promise Land
Hebrew 3:7-11 (Quoting from Psalms 95: 7-11)
So, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,
though for forty years they saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”
8 do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,
though for forty years they saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”
Hebrew 4:3
“Now we who have believed enter that rest…”
I am reminded how God has taught me over the years exactly how important it is to Him that I show respect for the people in my life in a way that honors Him. How can I possibly honor and respect my God, who I cannot see, when I resist repecting the people He has placed in my life? I feel His pleasure when I choose to be respectful to my husband, my son's and their wives, even my grandchildren. It's about putting their best interests first before mine. Yes, I love my family very, very much. I've learned that respect is a part of that love and is something I choose to do even if it doesn't feel right or they don't deserve it.
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