in the wilderness

The new generation of Israel has moments of great faith followed by a massive failure.  God's faithfulness sees them through as they learn to depend on Him daily and regularly repent.  We can do the same because of love and power of God shown to us in Jesus on the cross.

A new generation is on the move toward the land of promise.  But this new generation is just as corruptible as the last one.  And their impatience and ingratitude, rooted in a desire for self-rule and slavery, invite deadly snakes into their midst.  It is only through the grace of God that the serpents that bring death are defeated.  And it is only through Jesus that the ultimate serpent that brings death is crushed.

With the Israelites still ungrateful and grumbling, Moses has a very public meltdown.  His self-righteousness has caused him to become impatient with God's patient redemptive plan.  And we see that Moses is neither the hero of this story, nor the rescuer that God's people ultimately need.  God is the hero and he sends Jesus as our ultimate rescuer who gives us living water that finally quenches our thirst.

Following their rebellion, the people of Israel sense the great separation between them and a holy God.  But God, in His grace, provides intermediaries and purification.  In the Gospel of Jesus, we find the grace to be in the presence of a holy God.

God continues to respond to the rebellion of the Israelites with grace.  In this case, he graciously reaffirms the role and responsibilities of the Levites and the role and function of the priests to protect the people.  Moreover, he gives them a readymade source of cleansing when the encounter death.  In Jesus, the ultimate high priest, God brings us near to him without fear and offers us final and ongoing cleansing from our sin that leads to death.

In Numbers 16 & 17 we find the people of God responding to God's grace with more rebellion and grumbling, to the point of challenging God's appointment of Aaron as high priest.  But God demonstrates his grace to the people and his vindication of Aaron when Aaron acts as the mediator between the living and the dead...just like Christ.

Korah leads a rebellion assuming that his standing means he can assert himself as a priest.  But God reminds all of Israel that he has chosen rightly with Aaron.  Whereas Korah attempted to elevate himself and in so doing put the people at risk, the true high priest puts his own life at risk in order to rescue the people.  How much more is this true of Jesus who has once and for all rescued humanity by laying down his life.

Numbers 14 ends with a question mark: since an unbelieving generation will be condemned to die in the wilderness, and the next generation will wander for 40 years, what will come of God's promise to enter the land?  Numbers 15 is the answer: God still desires fellowship with His people by His grace and their obedience.

The story of the 12 spies shows us that is entirely possible to be presented with the same facts on the ground and come to entirely different conclusions.  That is, as people of God, we can either view the world through the lens of his promises or our perspective.  If we are going to follow God  in faith, even amidst significant struggle, we must look for his faithfulness, remember his power and listen to his word.  And his faithfulness and power are on its fullest display in Jesus - the living word of God.

In Numbers 13 and 14 we encounter two different groups of people: those that believe God and see things from His perspective, and those that doubt God and see things through their own eyes.  Both have seen God's power, character and promises...but come away with different convictions.

In Numbers 11 and 12, we find God generously putting His Spirit on other leaders so that a grumbling Moses isn't alone in leading the people.  But shortly thereafter, his own sister and brother disparage him in their envy.  We learn that envy is simply a different form of grumbling...being unhappy about what God has given someone else.  But in the Gospel, we have all we need.

As grumbling overtakes Israel, Moses is overwhelmed and Miriam and Aaron are envious - two emotions that are common amongst us!  To each of them God demonstrates his grace, just in different ways.  God raises us leaders to help Moses carry the burden.  And God gives Miriam and Aaron an important reminder about their true identity.  It is identity that brings true contentment.

Only a few days into their journey to the Promised Land, the people of Israel begin to grumble and complain.  The problem isn't wishing for better circumstances, it's that grumbling is caused by ingratitude and faith in self that leads us away from God.  However, a life of gratitude for God's grace leads to full life.

Three days into the journey and the Israelites are grumbling.  How does this happen?  The same way it regularly happens in our lives.  We cling to a sense of entitlement that shifts our perspective off of God's glory, presence and mission and onto our cravings and comfort.  Rather than going to God in lament about the reality of our struggle we point our finger at him in disgust.  And when grumbling starts, it spreads quickly.  Only a mediator greater than Moses, namely Jesus, can save us from ourselves.

The cloud not only demonstrated God's purpose, but it would lead God's people on their journey.  And in his kindness he provided two silver trumpets to help clarify this leading.  Just like the Israelites, we are called to follow God in this life we are living, but it can be overwhelming and difficult at times.  Praise God in his kindness he has provided two silver trumpets - the Scriptures and the Spirit to speak to us corporately and individually and keep us on track as we follow God by constantly pointing us to Jesus.

Before they commence their journey to the Promised Land, God calls the Israelites to celebrate Passover...again.  What we find is that Passover doesn't just set them free, it's what keeps them free.  We, too, are called to continue to celebrate the ultimate Passover in Jesus...it's what keeps us free.

Passover was a mandatory celebration for God's people because it helped them remember and embrace their identity.  But Passover was always pointing to something greater.  In Jesus, we have the ultimate Passover - a rescue from slavery and welcome into the family of God.  So then, Jesus becomes a mandatory feast for all who desire to come to God.

In Numbers 6 and 7 we find the people of God being blessed by God, responding in worship, and enjoying His presence.  We, too, can have the blessing of God on us through Jesus.

Israel was God's people.  He had adopted them, literally placing his name on them.  And in so doing he promised to bless them.  Blessing meant keeping and protecting them, taking delight in them, extending grace toward them and giving them peace.  We see this ancient blessing find its ultimate meaning in the person and work of Jesus, through whom we have been adopted into God's family.  And just like them, our only possible response is worship.