Getting Good out of Moses' Law

Quite often, when we start a Bible reading program, or even when we are reading to study for Bible class, we get bogged down in certain areas. Leviticus is one (see Jay Taylor's article in this issue), but Exodus and Numbers are also places we can "get stuck." Exodus has a lengthy section on the instructions for building the tabernacle. Numbers is frustrating because we have been following God's people beginning with Abraham's journey from Ur to Canaan, Jacob's journey from Canaan to Egypt, 400 years of captivity in Egypt, escaping across the Red Sea and coming to Mt. Sinai. Finally, we get to the cusp of the Promised Land, and there is the discouraging failure that ends up being 40 more years of wilderness wandering. So, if we're reading the Old Testament, what can we possibly glean from all of this? Here are three things about God we can learn from Exodus and Numbers.

God Sweats the Small Stuff

What about those instructions for building the taber- nacle? In fact, it is more than that, as God offers instruction on the kind of contribution that will be acceptable (Ex. 25:1- 7), on the building of the Ark of the Covenant (25:10-22) and the Table of Shewbread (25:23-30), on the making of the golden lampstand (25:31-40). After that come the instruc- tions for building the tabernacle (Chapter 26), followed by instructions for the building of the altar (27:1-8), the court of the tabernacle (27:9-19), and even the exact type of oil to be burned in the lamp (27:20-21). Finally, there are intricately detailed instructions on the making of garments for the priests (Chapter 28), followed by instructions on consecrating those priests (Chapter 29).

It is impossible to come away from these readings and believe that God doesn't care about details, that he "doesn't sweat the small stuff." Isn't that what people usually say when they want to do something that's unauthorized by scripture - that God couldn't possibly care about such a small thing, and to think He does must mean you're a Pharisee?

But in the scriptures, we see a God who is actively involved in many minute details. In fact, Jesus' harshest rebuke of the Pharisees is worth examining for what He actually says. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- crites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others" (Matt. 23:23). It was not wrong of the Pharisees to be concerned with the small things, but they became consumed with them to the point they neglected the "bigger picture." Jesus says they should have been careful about both. The truth is that we cannot simply ignore the authority of God, banking on the idea that He doesn't care about small things. What we ought to do instead is take care to do His will (1 John 5:1-5).

God Belongs In the Center

In the early chapters of Numbers, we are treated to a layout of the camp of Israel. Three tribes camped on the east side (2:1-9), three on the south (2:10-16), three on the west (2:18-24) and three on the north (2:25-30). In the center of the camp, the Levites were to set up the tabernacle (2:17). Why is this important? It means that God was at the center of the camp, and God was to be their focus, at the heart of everything Israel did. Dads, what about your camp? Is God set up at the center? Is He the focus of all that you are trying to accomplish with your family? Do your children understand that He comes first in all that you do?

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith . . . (Heb. 12:1-2a).

God Accomplishes His Will

Finally, near the end of Numbers, God proves to us that He can accomplish His will even through those who oppose Him, and we get a fascinating lesson on God trying to prevent us from opposing Him. The Moabite king Balak sends for Balaam, a prophet of God, to curse the Israelites. Balaam asks God's will, and God tells him not to go to Balak (22:12). That should have settled the matter, but it didn't. Often, we can easily understand what God would have us do in a situation, but it doesn't seem to be enough for us.

Next, Balaam sets out to go to Balak, and God attempts to stop him (22:22-35). Sometimes, when we set out to disobey God, our path is hard. We should consider whether God is chastening us, or blocking our path to do wrong. The story ends with Balaam attempting to curse Israel so that he can collect the reward from Balak, but at every turn, God replaces the curse with blessing in the mouth of Balaam (Chapters 24-25). God doesn't need us to accomplish His will, but we may be found fighting against Him. Balaam's story ends badly, and it is a sobering reminder of what happens to those who oppose God. We may struggle with some of the detailed readings of these two books, but there are great truths in their pages if we are willing to seek them out

Related

Abundant Life: July/August 2008

• Getting Good out the Bible's Hard to Read Material by Mark Roberts
• Getting Good out of Leviticus by Jay Taylor
• Getting Good out of Genealogies by Warren Berkley
• Getting Good out of the Little Epistles by Tony Mauck