Needles in a Haystack

I'm looking forward to Monday Bible Group tonight as i'm short on inspiration from this week's passages and need their help to spot the meaningful bits! We're trawling through Numbers, heading towards the end, but there seems to be very little actually going on. Doesn't help that for various reasons i read the entire weeks readings this afternoon rather than daily, but heh. Brief overview of the haystack and then the couple of needles i noticed...

More instructions for ritual cleansing before the strange account of Moses bringing water from the rock. Just goes to show the importance of following God's specific instructions and not just getting the general gist, as Moses failure to obey exactly to the letter means he misses out on the promised land.

Aaron, the first high priest has died, and his son Eleazar succeeds him and then the slaughter and divinely sanctioned killing begins. Arad, then Sihon & Og are the first to suffer at the hands of the advancing Israelites. Lots of problems with these accounts (and the many that will follow for me). Doing my best to extract some post NT meaning from these passages, i conclude that purity of land and community is really important for God who is displaying His holiness and awesome nature to these Israelites - not sure it cuts it really, but there we go.

Great story of Balaam's donkey and Balaam the wizard's prophecies and predictions before another census of all the people. Instructions on inheritance when there are no male heirs around, more offertory instructions, festival commands and lessons on the importance of keeping vows. The Midianites are then mercilessly slaughtered before Reuben and Gad ask for the land east of the Jordan. The reading for this week concludes with a fairly tedious list of all the places Israel camped in their forty years wandering round the desert. No descriptions though, just there, and there, and there...

Anyway to the needles...

1) Balaam - wizard, commandeered to the Lord's service to speak blessing over God's people even though his King hired him to put spells on them. After Balaam fails to curse the Israelites, his employer complains and Balaam replies, "...I can't say whatever I please, I must speak only what the Lord puts in my mouth."

Great line for preachers! Always good to be reminded that we don't bring before congregations a set of ideas and propositions, but our task is to speak into their midst and into their lives, the Living, current, word of God. Balaams attitude gives Him a great chance of doing so!

2) Joshua's commissioning - Moses' sees the potential for a leaderless people once he's died and remarks that without a successor to him, Israel would be like a 'sheep without a shepherd'. I hadn't realised that this was an OT phrase, i thought it had been made up by Jesus when he talks of labourers needed for the harvest field. For me, it makes the statement of Jesus all that more significant, He draws on a phrase well-known to His hearers, spoken by one of their heroes, Moses, to connect with the people of His time.

Every bit like local church

Continuing through numbers and realising how moany the Israelites are and how much patience and grace Aaron and Moses excercise. In fact, reading through chapters 11-18 felt like reading an account of local church ministry with its power battles, embattled, discouraged leaders, grumbling followers. Was struck by how similar the two were, God's people in OT and people that I pastor!

Chapter 11- 'I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets' - in other words, if only others would share the burden, if only others would share responsibility with me for hearing and delivering the words of the Lord, if only there were more people willing to help out with leading - any pastors ever felt anything similar?

Chapter 12 - opposition from Moses closest allies - Miriam & Aaron challenge his leadership and Miriam ends up regretting it, after coming sound very suddenly with a skin disease. how many pastors have struggled with even the closest and dearest losing faith in their ability to do what God wants them to do?

Chapter 13 - one that has always troubled me. I am not a natural optimist - i am hopeful and often full of faith but am keen to be real about challenges - after all, if we're up front about the real situation, God's help is often even more miraculous - and so feel a sense of connection with the spies that return and tell it as it is. Caleb though is far more positive - and i guess the issue here is not one of optimism/pessimism, but one of seeing the possibilities for God's action and being open to them.

As someone trying to sensitively and lovingly lead a church through transition for mission/renewal at the moment, we are about to embark on what seems for us quite a risk of establishing two morning congregations. Although i feel relatively convinced of God's hand on it, many are fearful and worried about the outcome. I guess in this particulalr situation, i feel something like Caleb (and Moses with grumbling congregants, but that's another issue) feeling as though able to see all the possibilities of God's action through taking a risk, where as others see the potential pitfalls and are unable to move past those.

Chapter 14 - More rebellion and dissent - yet Moses instead of having a huge sulk and going off to moan about the people that are failing to respect his leadership, knowing God's track record on dissent, immediately intercedes for them. A great lesson again for church leaders - pray for the trouble-makers - genuinely pray for God's hand to move in their life and bless them with good things... Love even when it hurts.

Chapter 15 - random insert it appears about offerings and the death of one who breaks the sabbath

Chapter 16 - more dissenters - this time swallowed up by the ground

Chapter 17 - Aaron's staff grows buds and then almonds as a sign of God's anointing for him as priest

Chapter 18 - concludes this little exploration of church leadership when God affirms to Aaron that his priesthood is a gift. In all the hassle and things that cause weariness of body and spirit, ministry is such a great gift. To be able to work for the Lord, full time, seeking His mercy and grace amongst a broken world, is a great privilege, always good to be reminded of that.

A few thoughts from numbers

Trawled through the counting of the Israelites clan by clan and heading further into Numbers and a few things of note that i thought was worth commenting on...

1) Chapter 5 - the origins of the compensation culture - so actually a prevalence of mitigation and personal injury compensation didn't originate in the States, it came from the Hebrews, who were commanded to make a generous retribution for theft, injuries etc in order that the person was compensated fully. Next time,  i hear a fellow Christian bemoan the compensation tendancy in a bible study or fellowship group - i'll send them back to Numbers 5.

2) Numbers 7 - 89 verses of various leaders bringing offerings for the consecration of the altar. Gets a bit tedious after a while to be honest, but remembering a theme from our away day today of everyone playing their part and how valuable that is. Even the small triangle can be significant in a musical masterpiece. Every gift is valued and recieved and adds to the importance of the whole. A helpful reminder - although its stretching the brain and spirit to extract this from this chapter!!

3) The cloud over the Tabernacle - love this sense that the Israelites have of moving at God's command alone. Reflecting how much i plan and strategise in ministry (not altogether bad) but also, how little i help people just to wait and see and follow God's leading. I'm so keen to get decisions nailed and plans in place - perhaps the culture of the ancients was better at this - just waiting and responding to God's leading. In Mansfield some years ago where i worked for a local church we were involved in the establishing of a town-wide prayer gathering. The first meeting went well, but instead of planning another we decided to wait until the leader felt it was right to have another one. He cited this passage - Numbers 9 - as his inspiration. Yes, there were times when publicity didn't get through and occasions when meetings were called at short notice, but there was a deep sense of the cloud of God's presence whenever we gathered and some significant results came, i'm sure from that prayer meeting movement. Perhaps in my ministry, i'll look for opportunities to wait and see where and when God leads, in some cases less planning, more waiting and swift obedience and see what the results may be.

Set apart for the Lord

Now into Numbers and the census that fills the first four chapters and beyond. Not much that i've noticed of any significance in the records of clans and families so far apart from the tribe of Levi being set apart for service of the Lord. The Levites are tasked with the maintaining the tabernacle and tent of meeting, and providing the priests in order that worship can take place. The Levites by their selection to this role become in many sense the spiritual descendants of Aaron the high priest of Israel.

Only couple of thoughts are how privileged i am to be set apart for the Lord in terms of my employment. I don't believe that i have a special priestly ministry that makes me different from any other Christian, but i do have the privilege of being given a liveable wage to work and pray in the communities that i'm placed in. In this very functional but important way, i am set apart for the Lord, i am a Levite.

But then, aren't all God's people levites? Are not all God's people spiritual descendants of Aaron called upon to offer worship and intercession on behalf of our communities and our world? Aren't all God's people set apart as citizens of heaven, called to shine like stars in the universe, standing out, living differently from the world at large, because we are set apart to serve the Lord. If this is the case what on earth would the church look like if we took this seriously? How can we live set apart but not isolated and  as hermits?

Amazing that out of seemingly dull passages time and time again, God gives plenty to think about.

Aarons breastplate

Back to work today after ten days or so away hence the lack of recent blogs. I have been reading my Bible however, and out of the many things one could comment on - the wrap up of the Joseph story, the call of Moses, the exodus, ten commandments etc. the thing that struck me the most was the Exodus 28:29-30.

Undoubtedly, this is clouded by my sense of affiliation with Aaron the priest as i too am the religious leader of two communities, but even so it is remarkably special. Aaron's breastplate is made of all sorts of finery - it is a mix of all sorts of jewels and gems and its monetary value alone must be spectacular, let alone its appearance or significance to the community. I'm not all that fussed about the jewels though. What matters most to me, are the two sentences of conclusion to the description of the breastplate. Aaron is a key man in a key role. he was priest of the israelite community, he was the charged with officiating at all the key moments as a representative of God. But in order that Aaron never forgets this role, the other way, representing the people before God, he sees that his breastplate is a symbol of all Israel. In fact, he views it as whenever he wears the breastplate he wears the names of the whole community over his heart before God. What an awesome statement. Whenever Aaron prepares for the finery and ceremony of his duties, he recalls that he performs all of these things with the people symbolically placed over his heart.

Now i'm, not into dresses and vestments etc at all, i'm a low churchman and proudly so, but to think that next time i slip the piece of plastic into my shirt collar i'm not just a representative of God and God's people but that actually i am to carry them in/over my heart before God's presence is a wonderful, precious and awesome responsibility.

Undoubtedly, this is a huge challenge for me as to my prayer life, but also to just being aware that i am charged in the aaronic tradition, to carry the names of 'my' communities before God, in His presence, over and within my heart.

Racing through the generations

After a few days of not being very well i am catching up on my reading before tonights Bible Reading Group and so here are some very basic and general thoughts on Genesis 29-41!

Their's a lovely romantic story about how far a man will go for the love of a woman as Jacob ends up serving years on Laban's farm to win the hand of his daughter Rachel. But yet again, things never go smoothly. Why anyone ever trusted an oath or promise made to them is beyond me, because they seem to be broken left, right and centre when it suits. Laban is at fault this time - happily taking Jacob's loyal service for 7 years and then negating on his promise of Rachel's hand in marriage in return. In the end he gets Rachel, accompanied by younger Leah for the promise of 7 more years labour. Jacob settles for this as his love for Rachel is so strong.

Lots of sons follow as well as the inevitable envy and rivalry between two competing wives as to who can produce the best dynasty. Jacob negotiates a parting with Laban, they agree and lo and behold! Jacob tricks and deceives Laban completely and makes off with the best flock.

after much messing around Jacob and Laban agree on what seems like a fairly serious and binding agreement before Jacob heads off to meet Esau who he first plies with gifts and blessings to try and win his favour. If it wasn't clear to me before, it is now, that Jacob is incapable of speaking to anyone straightly and honestly. His way is to deal with flattery and manipulation, never wanting to upset anyone but deceiving them afterwards. A totally damaging way to deal with people.

Jacob then wrestles with God, a strange and mysterious story - often used as a symbol for our intellectual and emotional wrestling with God over tragedy and doubt before the grand reunion with Esau - who incidentally seems rather non-plussed by all the over-the-top gifts and just wants to make up. Again Jacob agrees to meet him again in a little while and then does the opposite.

Another disturbing account in Chapter 34 involving the rape of Dinah and the honour killings to avenge the shame. But not before a pacifying agreement has been reached with the town for their conversion through circumcision and then during their recovery the place is ransacked.

Jacob recieves a change of name to Israel, at Bethel, where he consecrates himself to meet with God in a clear and deliberate way - challenge for us today when we gather for worship/prayer perhaps? - then we trot through Esau's descendents before reaching one of my heroes of the OT - Joseph.

Joseph in a nutshell:

- greatly gifted lacked grace to go with it - sometimes we can have too much gift for our level of grace!
- sold for pieces of silver - wasn't someone else treated the same way
- served faithfully in whatever situation he was in - God wants our best wherever we are
- in face of temptation flees doesn't dally with it
- in prison - grows in grace - acknowledges that any interpreting abilities he has come from God
- faithfully delivers messages from the Lord even when they are hard
- but tries to help his own cause rather than let God's time overrule
- eventually wins out after learning that all the glory and honour for his abilities go to God

God's purposes working out despite his servants best efforts!

Soap opera families & their wells

So we head into the story of Isaac and his family which feels at times like reading the script from a dysfunctional family who are the main characters in a sitcom. Twins are born with very different personalities and characteristics and their relationships within the family are plagued by being favoured by mum, Rebekah or dad, Isaac. This leads to the twins being played off each other - perhaps as weapons used by mum and dad to get at each other.

Firstly, Jacob steels the birthright of the first born son, Esau. He takes advantage of his hunger and finds a weak moment to manoeuvre himself up the 'food chain' and take Esau's place and be in line for the inheritance of the firstborn.

Secondly, Jacob tricks old Isaac - once again, buoyed on by his mother - into passing on the paternal blessing - the equivalent of a modern day will in many ways, which was solemn and binding as an oath - to himself.

What is striking is that once again, through manipulation and scheming the purposes of God seem to be fulfilled. Perhaps its these verses that so many Christians base their conduct on!

I've skipped over the fact that Isaac repeats Abraham's misjudgement of passing off his wife for his sister to protect himself as there isn't time today but just two things to note before i go to cook the family meal...

The unplugging of wells - i love this sense of generations before finding the source of life-giving water and later generations re-discovering them and opening them up again for their benefit and blessing. Its so great to see in my lifetime the church (in particular Methodism) re-discover the old wells of long ago with a fresh desire to plant churches of all different kinds, a thrust for discipleship and mission, a renewed commitment to prayer and a fresh challenge to engage with God's word and grow in holiness. These are the great discoveries of the past. As much as we need pioneers to find the brand new ways God is moving and shaping the world and its people, we need people who will search the scriptures and watch the land closely to see where the old springs have been and to work to unplug those old wells of before in churches, in towns, even in people's lives, that fresh, life-giving water - the living water from which we will never thirst, is experienced and drunk deep again.

And lastly, after Jacob's affirming and God-given dream, as a response to God's goodness to Him he spontaneously offers a tenth of everything the Lord has given Him. Once again, the principle of tithing is present even before its command is given. It's encouraging to me and perhaps challenging to others that this principle of Christian giving isn't just tucked away in one obsucre reference, but this principle appears time and time again within God's word and is one God's people would do well to respond to.