Wait…we aren’t done with the crazy commands? Okay…bring ’em on..
I don’t think I need to comment on all the different commands Israel was given, but a couple of words jump out at me.
“put to death”, “appear before God” and “don’t hold anything back”. Also “you must celebrate”.
I suppose that every one of those phrases could turn into a sermon. “Put to death” would talk about the way we vigorously turn away from sin. ‘Appear before God” would be a reminder that all our activities will be judged, and that God is watching. “Don’t hold anything back” would address the way we serve, praise and give to the Lord.
But what about “you must celebrate”? Would that be the communion ritual, and maybe Thanksgiving? There should be several special days woven into our calendar that remind us to praise and thank God for all the wonderful blessings He has given us. And, just as the Bible says, our children will receive a religious education as they participate.
I need to be commanded to celebrate. Not everyone does, but I do. I would rather work and then go home and relax where it’s quiet..and then go back to work. For me, celebration is more of a task than enjoyment. Don’t get me wrong, I often have a good time once I am involved, but I always drag my feet on the way. Left to my own devices, I would ignore celebration and eventually my life would turn into a series of tasks that didn’t place a high value on relationship for relationship’s sake. I would have relationships only because the job required them.
That’s not what God intended. Hence the command to stop working one day a week, and to celebrate several times a year. And these celebrations weren’t day long events…they generally took several days up to a week. Sometimes in Israel’s history the king would “extend” the festival for an additional week! Good grief. I can see myself squirming around by the end of the second day.
Why do some of us need directives to have fun? And others need directives to show up for work? I guess on some level we all need to find balance between work and rest, and between community and family. In the same way we need to be forced (or guided) to pay compensation when it’s owed. Perhaps it’s all related…God is teaching us to behave and function on the level that He originally intended.
So “stop and help” and “pay close attention” …and whatever else God lays on your heart.
In other news: I just noticed that all of the nobles of Israel ate a meal with God! Incredible. I thought no one had ever seen God face to face, but these guys have seen Him and eaten a meal with Him! Unbelievable!
What’s even more incredible….a short time after this Aaron and company will allow the people to create a calf out of gold and begin to worship it. I mean, they were sitting at a table with God himself not a month ago…and now they are doing exactly what He said not to do. The sheer stupidity of it blows my mind. I humbly pray that I am not so dense as to fall into the same pit.
Faithfully,
PR